As the pandemic and family doctor shortage overwhelms the province, many doctors and nurses in rural emergency departments (ED) are unable to keep their doors open.
Since the beginning of 2022, B.C. has seen consistent closures of rural hospital EDs as a result of staffing shortages or the inability to cover someone’s shift due to illness. Communities that have faced the most closures include Clearwater, Chetwynd, Mackenzie and Port McNeill.
When an ED closes its doors or announces it has been placed on diversion, the ripple effect is felt across multiple communities.
“There’s a growing frustration in Clearwater, Ashcroft and Lillooet around these closures because there just does not seem, over the last five years, like there was any urgency given to try and address the situation that’s been growing,” said Peter Milobar, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA.
In Clearwater, the most closures have been recorded with roughly 28 since the beginning of the year. Patients from this hospital are most commonly diverted to the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops. Though (RIH) has not seen an ED closure as of yet, according to Milobar they are extremely short staffed and feeling the pressure.
