The emergency department at Mission Memorial Hospital will be closed overnight for more than 12 hours, due to a staffing shortage.

"Fraser Health advises Mission and surrounding area residents that due to physician staffing challenges at Mission Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health is implementing a temporary service interruption beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 to Sunday, March 30 at 8 a.m.," according to a press release issued at 2 p.m. on Saturday (March 29).

It will begin at 6:30 p.m. to ensure all patients already in the emergency department can be seen by a physician before they end their shift at 11 p.m., Fraser Health stated.

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 re-direction of care, and/or transfer patients with urgent needs to a neighbouring hospital.

"Fraser Health is working closely with B.C. Emergency Health Services to ensure patients requiring a high-level of care are directed or transferred to an appropriate hospital emergency service."

Anyone with a life-threatening emergency, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding, should call 911.

This closure impacts the emergency department only. All other services at Mission Memorial Hospital are available. 

All other Fraser Health emergency departments remain open and have emergency physicians on site; however, high numbers of people seeking care and human resources challenges at many of our hospital emergency departments may lead to longer wait times for patients with non-urgent care concerns, Fraser Health added.

Anyone with non-urgent health needs can call the Fraser Health Crisis Line 24/7 at 1-877-820-7444. People can also call Fraser Health Virtual Care at 1-800-314-0999 and speak with a registered nurse from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, or call 811 outside of those hours to speak with a health service navigator or a registered nurse.