News

Northern BC residents needing emergency department care have a new resource to let them know how to access care in the event local services are interrupted.

“When emergency departments are temporarily unavailable for any reason, the most important thing for someone facing a medical emergency is knowing where to go for care,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This webpage helps people quickly see the status of emergency departments in their community and find clear information about other options when they need non-emergency care.”

Every New Year’s Day, Northern Health monitors its hospitals and labour and delivery units for the birth of New Year’s babies across the region.

Watch this page for updates on the birth of 2026 New Year’s babies in communities across the North.

First Northern Health baby of 2026 born in Terrace

Northern Health is pleased to announce that the first baby born in 2026 in the North was born in Terrace, and it’s a girl!

Northern Health is issuing a Drug Advisory for the Northwest region of BC. Several “Down” samples submitted for drug checking have tested positive for Medetomidine.

Northern Health and FNHA are issuing a drug alert for the community of Smithers. A dark blue drug sold as “down” has been reported to be much stronger than expected and has highly sedative effects that last for extended periods of time. This is occurring whether smoked or injected.

Northern Health is pleased to announce that the preferred mechanical and electrical non-owner participants (NOPs) for the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) Acute Care Tower project have been selected:

There has been an increase in overdose events in the community of Prince Rupert. Overdoses are happening whether the substance is smoked and/or injected.

The first steps of a review of the health authorities have been completed, which included reducing administrative costs, and work is underway to improve efficiencies and redirect savings to frontline services.

Northern Health is proud to announce the launch of its Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap, a bold five-year strategy (2025–2030) designed to amplify existing efforts to build a healthier, more resilient North.

The Roadmap outlines 18 key actions for the health authority across four focus areas: