Due to limited staff availability in the Mt. Waddington region and in order to maintain safe patient care, Island Health is advising community residents and visitors to the area that the Port McNeill Hospital (PMH) emergency department will be closed from 7 a.m. on May 13 until 7 a.m. on May 16.
During this timeframe, no new patients will be admitted to PMH.
Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911 or, if possible, proceed to Port Hardy Hospital. Island Health and BC Emergency Health Services have protocols in place to ensure patients are transported to the appropriate 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.
Island Health continues to actively recruit to fill nursing vacancies in the region, including working with partners to utilize many levers to increase staffing levels in the interim. The staffing challenges experienced on the north island are not unique to that region, or even Island Health. There is a national shortage of health care providers, affecting all provider groups including nursing. The effects of this national issue are amplified in rural and smaller programs and sites where baseline staffing numbers are lower.
Island Health acknowledges this is not an ideal situation for the community and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience experienced by this temporary service reduction.