Northern Health has formed a new task force to address ongoing emergency room (ER) closures at the Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre in Burns Lake. This year alone, there have been 11 service interruptions, with six in January and five in February. The closures are primarily due to a shortage of physicians, and the newly established Emergency Department Stabilization Task Force is working to find solutions, including recruitment incentives, temporary staffing, and the potential use of virtual services.
Northern Health is actively recruiting physicians to the area, with two expected to start in Burns Lake this spring. The hospital is fully staffed with registered nurses, and staffing issues are mainly related to the physician shortage, which has resulted in a 55% vacancy rate for ER coverage.
The Ministry of Health and Northern Health are offering a variety of incentives to attract physicians to rural communities. In the event of ER closures, patients requiring life-threatening care are advised to call 9-1-1, and local health partners like BC Emergency Health Services are notified to ensure patients are quickly transferred to the nearest available facility.
Despite recent closures, Northern Health has seen a 22% reduction in service interruptions compared to the previous year, highlighting ongoing efforts to stabilize emergency services in the region.
