UPDATE: MLA Bernier calls Chetwynd Hospital diversions ‘horrifying’

UPDATE: The Chetwynd Hospital is under another diversion. To view our latest story, click here.

CHETWYND, B.C. — Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier says enough is enough when it comes to diversions at the Chetwynd Hospital’s emergency department.

“I mean, it’s horrifying for the people who live in Chetwynd,” Bernier said. “Any time there’s an emergency now, you just never know what to expect, if the hospital’s even going to be open.”

The department has been diverted and closed for the last three weekends and has been closed every evening since Saturday, May 4th. Northern Health says it will be closed again from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning.

The first diversion was caused by a lack of available doctors, while closures caused by a lack of nursing staff have occurred in the past two weeks.

Bernier also expressed sympathy for current workers at the hospital.

“I feel bad for the existing doctors and nurses that I know are going above and beyond to try to avoid this from happening,” he said. 

“This just really highlights the fact that government needs to pay more attention to our small, rural communities, and bring the supports that are necessary to stop this from happening.”

Bernier says he personally spoke with Minister of Health Adrian Dix to make him aware of the issue.

In an interview last week after the closure of Fort St. John Hospital’s emergency department, Dix outlined several initiatives the government uses to reduce emergency room closures, such as hiring locum workers to fill in for other doctors and nurses.

Dix also explained some moves made to limit the impact of closures when they do occur, like expanding ambulance services in rural areas. 

“He’s been talking about trying to fix this for years, and it’s only getting worse, so I said, ‘We’ve brought in contract nurses into other communities, maybe we need to think outside the box,'” said Bernier.

He says the government needs to do everything possible to ensure people in rural communities like Chetwynd don’t suffer, even if that means paying extra to bring doctors and nurses to rural areas.

The South Peace Division of Family Care, a group of healthcare workers in Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, and Dawson Creek, says it’s working to recruit and hire more doctors and staff for the area.

The organization also plans to turn Dawson Creek’s Eljen Healthcare Clinic into a “primary care hub” for the entire South Peace region, working alongside partners with Northern Health.