Update:
The ER at St. John's Hospital will re-open at 6 p.m. today, Wednesday, March 26.
Original:
Northern Health is advising Vanderhoof and area residents are the emergency department services at St. John Hospital will be interrupted between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 26.
The temporary closure is due to staffing challenges and Northern Health said it is continuing to work to fill vacant shifts to allow services to resume earlier, if possible.
People in the Vanderhoof who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e. chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding) should call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.
Any time services are interrupted, partners in patient transfer and local health services are notified and signage will be in place at the hospital informing patients to call 911 for transport.
For non-urgent care needs, patients can call the NH Virtual Primary & Community Care Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 (daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) to access a family doctor or nurse practitioner: https://www.northernhealth.ca/.../medical.../virtual-clinic. The First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program also enables Indigenous people and their family members living in B.C. with limited or no access to their own doctors to make virtual appointments, by calling 1-855-344-3800 (seven days per week, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm). And Northern B.C. residents can also book an appointment to see a pharmacist for 21 minor ailments and prescription contraceptives: https://www.bookapharmacist.gov.bc.ca/minorail/s/
Patients who aren’t sure whether their condition would warrant an emergency room visit, or who need health advice can call HealthLink BC (8-1-1) or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
"We appreciate your continued patience and understanding, and your support for our dedicated health care providers and staff," noted NH in a Facebook post.
