Northern Health announced a temporary reduction in emergency services at Kitimat General Hospital on July 12. This measure, which began at 7 p.m. and concluded the following morning at 8 a.m., was in place for 13 hours, as the assigned physician was redirected to work in the emergency room at Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace.
The health authority stated that this relocation was necessary to ensure continuous regional emergency coverage at Mills Memorial Hospital.
In light of the service cut, Northern Health advised residents in and around Kitimat who may require critical emergency care such as chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding, to dial 9-1-1 for transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility. The authority discouraged visits to the Kitimat General Hospital during this period.
As part of the protocol during service interruptions, the health authority informed its partners in patient transfer and local health services. Signage was also installed at the hospital instructing patients needing emergency care to dial 9-1-1 for transportation.
For non-urgent health issues, the health authority recommended individuals to abstain from visiting the Kitimat emergency room and instead utilise the services of the NH Virtual Clinic. The clinic, which is accessible via the phone number 1-844-645-7811 and operates daily from 10am to 10pm, offers access to family doctors or nurse practitioners.
Northern Health also reminded residents of northern B.C. that appointments with a pharmacist for minor ailments and prescription contraceptives can now be booked.
This instance marked the second time in a week that an emergency room in northwestern B.C. was impacted due to a doctor shortage. The first occasion occurred at Terrace’s Mills Memorial Hospital, when the emergency room was left without a doctor on duty for eight hours on July 11.