For at least the fifth time this month, an emergency department at a small hospital in B.C.’s interior has had to close because of staffing issues.
Interior Health confirmed to CTV News that in Clearwater, north of Kamloops, Dr. The ER at Helmken Memorial Hospital closes at 9 a.m. Sunday and will remain closed until 9 p.m.
The bandh came after several overnight shutdowns earlier this month including May 10, May 14, May 15 and May 25.
The facility is typically open 24 hours a day, and Internal Health has blamed “unforeseen limited staff availability” for the recent closure.
“IH is actively recruiting staff to fill positions in the health authority, with a particular emphasis on areas such as Clearwater,” Interior Health said in an email to CTV News on Sunday.
When the Clearwater Emergency Department is closed, patients are taken to the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, which is more than an hour’s drive away.
Royal Inland has had its own staffing issues, which were highlighted last week by a pair of opposition legislators.
BC Liberals Peter Milobar and Todd Stone spoke publicly on Thursday about their concerns over hospital conditions.
“The situation at Royal Inland Hospital has been getting worse over the past four to five years and will only get worse if action is not taken to improve it,” Stone said. Toxic workplace.”
Stone shared data that was provided to her by nurses at the facility “on a confidential basis.” He said he was told the staffing level in the emergency room was 46 percent during the day on Saturday, May 21.
Additionally, Stone said there was a callout for the next month to fill more than 400 innings. Till Thursday morning, just 10 of them were filled by nurses, he said.
In a statement to CTV News Vancouver, Internal Health said it did not have a staff breakdown in each department, but said the Royal Inland Hospital had between 76 and 78 percent of staff on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays last week.
Other health officials have had their own staff struggle.
A wave of resignations in Northern Health is raising alarm among civic leaders in the region, who were already calling for a “comprehensive audit” of the health authority.
And on Vancouver Island, a shortage of family doctors has led to clinics closing and reduced hours at some facilities, and some of the longest clinic wait times in Canada.
With files from Alice Kotick and Penny Daflos of CTV News Vancouver
