From Northern Health:
Kitimat and area residents are advised of an upcoming Emergency Department service interruption at Kitimat General Hospital due to staffing challenges.
The Kitimat General Hospital Emergency Department will be unavailable between 5:00 pm tonight (December 25) and 7:00 am, Friday, December 27. The timing of interruptions is subject to change, as we are continually working to ensure physician and nursing staff coverage for emergency department services.
People in the Kitimat area who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e. chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding) should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. Any time services are interrupted, our partners in patient transfer and local health services are notified and signage will be in place at the hospital informing patients to call 9-1-1 for transport.
For non-urgent care needs, patients can call the NH Virtual Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 (daily from 10 am to 10 pm) to access a family doctor or nurse practitioner: https://www.northernhealth.ca/.../medical.../virtual-clinic . The First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program enables Indigenous people and their family members living in BC with limited or no access to their own doctors to make virtual appointments, by calling 1-855-344-3800 (seven days per week, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm). And Northern BC residents can also book an appointment to see a pharmacist for 21 minor ailments and prescription contraceptives: https://www.bookapharmacist.gov.bc.ca/minorail/s/.
Patients who aren’t sure whether their condition would warrant an emergency room visit, or who need health advice can call HealthLink BC (8-1-1) or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
We appreciate your support for our dedicated health care providers and staff, and thank you for your understanding.
