As a result of multiple emergency closures and communities losing their physicians on northern Vancouver Island, a task force has been struck by Island Health.
The health authority says it has been an “extremely challenging” time on the North Island with recent emergency room closures and scaled-back hours at some hospitals, causing major waits to see doctors at other facilities that remain open.
In Alert Bay, a two-week closure of the ER in the remote community’s hospital has now extended to the rest of the month.
That follows repeated temporary closures and patient diversions at the Port McNeill and Port Hardy hospitals in July and August.
Island Health representatives held a public meeting with North Island residents Thursday night to keep them up to date on the search for doctors and nurses to staff emergency rooms, but many residents remain worried that they might need emergency care and won’t get it.
