Temporary Service Interruption At Port Hardy Hospital Emergency Department

Staffing shortages - and the holidays - are forcing the Port Hardy Hospital Emergency Department to close overnight until well into the new year.

Port Hardy Hospital will be closed overnights from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. through to the morning of January 9, 2023.

The hospital will remain open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the overnight closure.

The Port McNeill Hospital Emergency Department will remain open 24/7, unless otherwise announced, however all other inpatient services will continue as normal at the hospital and the adjacent long-term care home.

The service interruption is due to limited staff availability related to the ongoing health human resource challenges being experienced in many rural and remote regions of B.C. and Canada combined with decreased staff availability traditionally experienced during the holiday season.

The closure will support Island Health to consolidate staffing to ensure consistent emergency department services during the day in Port Hardy and 24/7 in Port McNeill.

Anyone experiencing a medical emergency while the ED is closed should call 911 or, if possible, proceed to Port McNeill Hospital ED.

Island Health and BC Emergency Health Services have protocols in place to ensure patients calling 911 are transported to an appropriate alternate site.

If you are unsure if you are experiencing a medical situation requiring a visit to an emergency department, confidential health information and advice from a registered nurse is available toll free, 24/7 by calling HealthLink BC at 811.

First Nations communities and individuals can also access the First Nations Health Authority’s First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day services from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week.

Indigenous people and their family members can access the program to address their health and wellness needs by calling 1-855-344-3800 to book an appointment.