For the second time this year, Mission Memorial Hospital is closing its emergency room temporarily because of physician staffing issues. Read More
The ER will be closed at Mission Memorial Hospital from 6:30 p.m. on Saturday to 8 a.m. on Sunday.
The ER will be closed at Mission Memorial Hospital from 6:30 p.m. on Saturday to 8 a.m. on Sunday.
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For the second time this year, Mission Memorial Hospital is closing its emergency room temporarily because of physician staffing issues.
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It will be closed overnight Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Sunday.
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In a statement Saturday afternoon, Fraser Health said that after 6:30 p.m., emergency-trained nurses will continue to be on site and available to support walk-in patients needing basic first aid, assist with redirection of care, and/or transfer patients with urgent needs to a neighbouring hospital.
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Patients requiring a high-level of care will be directed or transferred to an appropriate hospital emergency service, the statement said.
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Health officials say anyone with a life-threatening emergency, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding, should call 911 and will be transported to the nearest available and appropriate facility.
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This service interruption impacts the ER only. All other services at Mission Memorial Hospital are available.
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This is the second time this year the ER has had to close overnight because of staffing issues. And it shut down four separate nights last August for the same reasons.
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Staffing shortages have been a problem at many hospitals across B.C. In September, emergency rooms closed in Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, Lillooet, Oliver and Merritt. White Rock has also experienced ER closures.
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