Delta Hospital closed its emergency room for two nights in row over the weekend, citing physician staffing challenges.
On Monday, B.C.'s health minister Josie Osborne said Fraser Health did "everything possible" to avoid the temporary closures.
Calling the closures "service disruptions," Fraser Health issued two releases Saturday night and Sunday night (Feb. 22-23) saying it was implementing a temporary service disruption from 9:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. both nights.
"The service interruption will begin at 9:30 p.m. to ensure all patients already in the emergency department can be seen by a physician before they end their shift at 1:30 a.m.," both releases noted.
"After 9:30 p.m., emergency-trained nurses will continue to be on site and available to support walk-in patients needing basic first aid, assist with re-direction of care, and/or transfer patients with urgent needs to a neighbouring hospital," they continued.
Both releases encouraged anyone with a life-threatening emergency, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding, to call 9-1-1 immediately to be "transported to the nearest available and appropriate facility."
Osborne said she understands why Delta residents are concerned.
"When you need emergency care, you need it to be there, so (ER closures are) understandably, incredibly disconcerting, to say the least, and people are understandably upset and want to know that we are taking every step possible," Osborne told the North Delta Reporter. "I can confirm that Fraser Health Authority did everything possible to avert having to temporarily close the emergency room."
She confirmed Fraser Health provides additional top-ups to wages to work in certain hospitals, but said Delta is not one of them, "so doctors are taking shifts to work at Surrey Memorial because they get paid more."
Osborne said fast-tracking the licensing of internationally trained doctors and attracting more doctors and nurses to work in B.C. remain key priorities for the province.
"We are making progress on that work, but there are times like this, and there are different models in terms of fees and staffing that health authorities are using in different communities across B.C. I know that Fraser Health, again, is working very hard on addressing this issue 鈥� specifically at this site as we encountered this weekend, but also in other sites and other health authorities across B.C."
Delta South MLA Ian Paton spoke during question period, saying that emergency rooms are supposed to be a 24/7 service.
"Under this NDP government, you can't guarantee (ERs) will be open when you need it. Think of the sounds and sirens at night around Ladner and Tsawwassen and wondering where that poor heart attack or stroke victim will be transported to and how long it will take, or will they die on the way," he said.
"Speaker, to the Minister of Health, when will you fix your government's failure to ensure B.C.'s emergency rooms are open when trauma strikes?"
On the weekend, people with non-urgent health needs were encouraged to call the Fraser Health Crisis Line 24/7 at 1-877-820-7444; call Fraser Health Virtual Care at 1-800-314-0999 to speak with a registered nurse from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., or to call 8-1-1 outside of those hours to speak with a health service navigator or a registered nurse.
On social media, many in community groups expressed concern and disbelief, with many sharing stories and thoughts of their own experiences with the current state of the province's health care system.
鈥� with files from Wolfgang Depner
More to come...
