The emergency department at Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre has closed for the 15th time in 2025. (Black Press file photo)
By Srushti Gangdev and Charles Brockman -The Interior News Posted March 19, 2025
The emergency room at Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre was closed down for the 15th time in 2025 this week.
The closure was set to run from 6 a.m. on March 16 to 4 p.m. on March 18, according to a press release issued by Northern Health. The closure is due to a staffing shortage, the press release said. Anyone who has emergency healthcare needs can call 9-1-1, which is still operating in the area throughout the closure.
Northern Health is actively recruiting doctors to the Burns Lake area with two incoming doctors to begin practicing this spring. Additionally, they are recruiting temporary physicians from outside the community to provide coverage for emergency services. Northern Health has also created a task force to address emergency department closures, the organization announced earlier this year. The hospital is fully staffed with nurses.
