Ongoing challenges with physician and nursing staff coverage are expected to require intermittent planned diversions of the emergency department at Dawson Creek & District Hospital, between August 8 and 14, 2021.
The diversions are necessary to ensure safe patient care, and adequate relief for existing staff. The emergency room is the only department affected during periods of diversion. The rest of the hospital will remain open, and current inpatients will not be impacted.
Dawson Creek residents with emergency health care needs should call 911 for transport to the most appropriate and available facility, regardless of the Dawson Creek emergency room status. Northern Health has worked with BC Emergency Health Services and the Patient Transfer Network to ensure all emergencies can be managed during any diversion periods.
Northern Health’s emergency rooms tend to patients who have experienced a sudden and/or unusual change in their health. This includes, but is not limited to, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or pain, chest pain, broken bones, and eye injuries.
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.
Northern Health continues to aggressively recruit both temporary and permanent nursing coverage, Recruitment for physician coverage, both locum and permanent positions, is also ongoing. In addition, DCDH continues to use the RUDi-Emergency service for assessment, diagnosis and treatment; which has recently allowed the hospital to avoid intermittent diversions in July, and early August, 2021.
Northern Health is committed to keeping the community informed about any impacts on or changes to local health services. Our top priority is keeping northern BC residents healthy and safe, no matter where they live in the region.