There are no planned emergency room closures in North Central BC this weekend.
However, Northern Health is advising the public that warm weather and the chance of poorer air quality due to wildfire smoke could lead to longer wait times at ERs in the region, especially for people with less urgent needs.
“There are other options for less urgent care,” Eryn Collins, a Northern Health Spokesperson, told My PG Now. “A really important message at any time is to be kind and respectful to the healthcare staff who are doing everything they can.”
As always, anyone with a life-threatening emergency should call 9-1-1.
“We are experiencing a health workforce shortage,” Collins added. “The impacts of those shortages can be more pronounced in rural and remote areas where we have more challenges with recruitment and retention, and where there are smaller work pools to begin with.”
Emergency room diversions are used as the absolute last resort which Collins said the health authority works “constantly” to avoid.
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