Port Hardy Hospital abruptly shuts down emergency department due to nursing shortages

The northernmost hospital on Vancouver Island is having to take action as they deal with staffing issues at their facility. 

There is a shortage of nurses at Port Hardy Hospital which led Island Health to abruptly close the emergency department for the remainder of Wednesday, August 16th. 

Island Health says the closure is due to nurses calling in sick and giving short notice they cannot make it in for their shift.

Port Hardy Hospital emergency room is scheduled to reopen at 7 a.m. on August 17th as of this publication. 

During the time the emergency room is closed, Island Health assures patients that inpatient services will continue as normal as well as the adjacent long-term care home. 

Anyone who is experiencing an emergency is urged to call 911, or if possible, proceed to Port McNeill Hospital, which is just a half hour drive down Highway 19 from the Port Hardy Hospital.

If people show up to Port Hardy Hospital, a staff member will be on hand to redirect traffic to Port McNeill. 

“Island Health acknowledges this is not an ideal situation for the community and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience experienced by this temporary service interruption,” Island Health wrote in a statement regarding the closure.