A community in Northern British Columbia is experiencing limited access to emergency healthcare due to a shortage of physicians, leading to reduced operating hours at Nats’oojeh Hospital until at least October. Nats’oojeh Hospital and Health Centre in Fort St. James serves the local municipality and several remote Indigenous communities in the vicinity.
Northern Health announced that due to insufficient doctors to sustain 24/7 emergency coverage while also ensuring daytime primary care and preventing physician burnout, the hospital’s emergency department will operate on a modified schedule temporarily. The department will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, possibly scaling back to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. based on physician availability, with weekend coverage updates provided weekly.
According to Northern Health, the reduced emergency department hours are expected to persist until at least October, with the timeline for resuming 24/7 coverage remaining uncertain. The nearest hospital is approximately 60 kilometers away in Vanderhoof.
Fort St. James Mayor Martin Elphee expressed frustration over the prolonged reduced schedule, stating that the situation is anticipated to continue for weeks. Northern Health’s Vice President of Clinical Operations, Lisa Zetes-Zanatta, emphasized that the current reduction is temporary to allow the remaining physicians in the community to manage their workload effectively and prevent burnout.
Elphee highlighted that the ER had to be closed for four weekends due to staff shortages since July 1, with approximately 75 closures recorded so far this year. The mayor described the situation as unacceptable, emphasizing the community’s need for consistent healthcare services.
Recruitment efforts are ongoing to address the physician staffing shortages in Fort St. James. Despite having the capacity for eight doctors, the community currently operates at half capacity and is expected to lose another physician by the year-end. Elphee mentioned that new physicians are set to join in September, with community leaders collaborating with healthcare recruiters to attract more doctors to the region.
Northern Health intends to provide regular updates on initiatives to stabilize and enhance emergency care access in Fort St. James, aiming to restore the hospital to its original service level by addressing physician shortages and welcoming locum support.
