Hudson's Hope ER closed for 3 weeks as doctor shortage persists

Hudson's Hope has just one doctor, which has contributed to ongoing closures of the community's emergency department since late last year.

Hudson's Hope ER closed for 3 weeks as doctor shortage persists Latest closure follows 2-week shutdown in May A small community in northeast B.C. is without emergency services for the rest of July. The Hudson's Hope Health Centre's emergency department will be closed until Aug. 4 due to ongoing staffing issues, according to Northern Health. One doctor is serving the community of less than 1,000 people, and efforts to recruit a second are ongoing.

"Other services such as diagnostics, community and primary care and some non-emergency urgent care/same day access can and do still occur, depending on the level of staffing needed," said spokesperson Eryn Collins. "As we've shared previously, Hudson’s Hope Health Centre is a small health centre with limited base staffing, as well as limited backup/casual or locum staffing availability. The focus of the health centre is to provide primary care access to the community."

Hudson's Hope ER diversions a symptom of physician shortage, says mayor More stories from Northern B.C. Hudson's Hope is located roughly 70 kilometres southwest of Fort St. John, in the foothills of the Rockies near the W.A.C. Bennett and Peace Canyon dams. The nearest emergency room is about a 45-minute drive away in either Chetwynd or Fort St. John. The latest closure follows a two-week shutdown in May.

According to data collected by CBC News, the health centre diverted emergency care for more than 1,200 hours last year. Subscribe to CBC’s Fort St. John Weekly for a roundup of the best news and stories from B.C.’s Peace and Northern Rockies.