Fort Nelson and area residents are advised that Fort Nelson General Hospital is closed effective immediately, due to the expanded evacuation orders resulting from wildfire activity in the region.
The wildfire fire threat around Fort Nelson has resulted in a decision to evacuate Fort Nelson General Hospital inpatients and long-term care residents to alternate locations, including in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek. NH is communicating directly with resident’s families to ensure clear information. Northern Health is working closely with BC Emergency Health Service which is deploying resources to assist with the evacuations.
If you have an emergency: People in Fort Nelson and area who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e. chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding) should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. Any time services are interrupted, our partners in patient transfer and local health services are notified and signage will be in place at the hospital informing patients to call 9-1-1 for transport.
For non-urgent care needs, patients can call the NH Virtual Primary & Community Care Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 (daily, 10am to 10pm) to access a family doctor or nurse practitioner. The First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program also enables Indigenous people and their family members living in BC 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). And Northern BC residents can also book an appointment to see a pharmacist for 21 minor ailments and prescription contraceptives.
For the most updated information on wildfire evacuation alerts and orders for your area, please visit the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Facebook page. Emergency Info BC also has up-to-date info on wildfire activity in the province.