The Port Alice Health Centre will be closed over the weekend, leaving the nearest urgent health care option a 45 minute drive away.
The health centre posted the notice citing the reason for the closure as a nursing shortage. The notice says the closure applies to urgent care and primary care.
The closure started at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, and will last until 8:30 a.m. on Monday, July 28.
In an email to CHEK on Friday evening, Dominic Abassi, spokesperson for Island Health stated:
“This is a temporary, isolated issue for this weekend due to a last minute sick call. Attempts to find coverage were made, however, other available nursing staff in the region are supporting operations at Port McNeill and Port Hardy hospitals. Normal services and hours in Port Alice are expected to resume on Monday, July 28 as noted.”
The sign notes the nearest emergency health options are the Port McNeill Hospital, and the Port Hardy Hospital, which Google Maps says each are a 45 minute drive.
If you are heading to either of the hospitals, the notice encourages people to call ahead to see if you can be seen.
If you are experiencing an emergency, you should call 911.
The 811 hotline is available for any non-emergency health issues.
Previous staffing shortages on the North Island
Throughout 2022, the Port Hardy and Port McNeill hospitals faced repeated closures due to staffing shortages.
At the time, a representative for the BC Nurses’ Union says nurses were travelling between the Port Hardy and Port McNeill hospitals to work in order to keep one of the two emergency departments open.
READ PREVIOUS: ‘They’re burnt out’: Nurse shortage a challenge for Port Hardy hospital
In the same year, the Cormorant Island Community Health Centre in Alert Bay also faced a number of closures due to staffing shortages.
READ PREVIOUS: Staffing shortage extends overnight closures at Alert Bay’s emergency department
At the beginning of 2023, the provincial government announced a $30 million investment in order to address the repeated closures.
READ ALSO: B.C. announces $30 million for North Island health-care services