Residents and area visitors are being advised that the Port Hardy Hospital emergency department will be closed from 5 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday due to staffing issues.
All other inpatient services at the hospital will continue during this period.
Anyone from the area who has a medical emergency should call 911 or, if possible, go to the Port McNeill Hospital emergency department. Island Health and B.C. Emergency Health Services have protocols in place to ensure those who call 911 get to the appropriate site.
The driving distance between Port Hardy and Port McNeill is about 43 kilometres.
People needing same-day access to less-urgent primary care can attend the Port Hardy Primary Health Care Centre, which will be open for walk-ins Monday from 4-8 p.m.
Island Health did not give a reason for the closure, but there have been ongoing overnight and weekend closures at the hopsital due to staffing shortages.
