Dozens of individuals gathered at a demonstration in Port Hardy, British Columbia, on Friday afternoon to express their dissatisfaction with the nightly shutdown of an emergency room located on the northern edge of Vancouver Island. Island Health made the decision to close the Port Hardy Hospital ER daily at 5 p.m. beginning in January 2023 due to a lack of staffing. North Island Conservative MLA Anna Kindy criticized this move, stating that closing an emergency room after 5 p.m. is unacceptable and reflects incompetence, especially over a three-year period.
When the Port Hardy ER closes, patients in need of urgent care must be transported 45 kilometers to Port McNeill along a hazardous road that is often icy and frequented by elk during winter. Kindy highlighted that the Port McNeill ER is already overwhelmed and incapable of accommodating additional patients, particularly those from remote communities across the north island, where delays during emergencies can result in poorer health outcomes.
Referring to a recent report from Island Health’s chief medical officer, Kindy emphasized the region’s inferior health outcomes and reduced life expectancy. Residents in the area frequently suffer from complex medical conditions requiring immediate attention, she added. Hereditary Chief David Mungo Knox of the local Kwakiutl First Nation stressed the impact of intergenerational trauma on his community, citing significant challenges related to addiction and mental health issues.
Island Health acknowledged challenges in recruiting X-ray and lab technologists, as well as ER nurses, despite successfully attracting physicians and medical staff to the region. The health authority highlighted ongoing efforts to address these recruitment obstacles, emphasizing the importance of enhancing healthcare services in North Vancouver Island. A recent $30 million investment has led to improvements in the region, including the introduction of a mobile CT scanner and increased mental health and substance use support services.
Despite the difficulties posed by the overnight closure of the hospital’s ER, Port Hardy Mayor Pat Corbett-Labatt emphasized the positive strides made in healthcare over the past three years. She expressed the need to celebrate successes and maintain a positive outlook to facilitate the recruitment of healthcare workers to the area. Successful recruitment of doctors has enabled more residents to access primary care, reducing the strain on emergency services. Corbett-Labatt also noted the benefits of a consistent hospital closure schedule compared to the unpredictable closures that plagued the north island in previous years.
