Emergency Rooms Closed in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, Leaving Northeast B.C. Without Local ER Care Sunday
UPDATE: Fort St. John Emergency Room to Remain Open.
Northern Health has confirmed that the Fort St. John Hospital emergency department will remain open Sunday, reversing an earlier notice that indicated a temporary closure.
As of Sunday afternoon, the only emergency room closure affecting Northeast B.C. is in Dawson Creek, where emergency department services at Dawson Creek & District Hospital remain unavailable from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday due to staffing challenges.
Original Story
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Residents across Northeast B.C. are facing a rare and serious disruption to emergency health care Sunday, with emergency rooms in both Fort St. John and Dawson Creek temporarily closed due to staffing shortages.
Northern Health confirmed that emergency department services at Dawson Creek & District Hospital are unavailable from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, while the Fort St. John Hospital emergency department will be closed from 5:00 p.m. Sunday until 7:00 a.m. Monday.
The closures mean that, for several hours Sunday evening, the two largest communities in Northeast B.C. will have no local emergency room services available.
Northern Health advises anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding, to call 9-1-1. Patients requiring urgent care will be transported to the nearest available and appropriate facility. Local patient transfer partners and health services have been notified, and signage is in place at both hospitals directing patients to call emergency services.
For non-emergency health concerns, residents are encouraged to call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse or access virtual care and community-based services where available.
Northern Health says the interruptions are due to staffing challenges, an issue that has increasingly affected emergency departments across rural and northern communities in recent years.
Emergency services in both communities are expected to resume once the closures end, though residents are being urged to plan accordingly and seek help immediately if an emergency arises.
