Doctor Calls for 24/7 Reopening of Port Hardy Emergency Room

The overnight emergency room at Port Hardy Hospital in British Columbia has been closed for over 31 months, prompting urgent calls for its reopening from local medical professionals. Dr. Alex Nataros, the medical director of the North Island Community Health Centre, emphasized that the community has sufficient medical staff to support a fully operational emergency room.

Dr. Nataros stated, “We have lots of physicians for a town of 4,000 people,” pointing out that at least eight doctors are available and willing to work in the emergency room. Prior to the closure, three or four doctors regularly staffed the ER. He expressed confusion as to why the facility remains closed, stressing that this situation poses a serious risk to the over 5,000 patients under the care of the North Island Community Health Centre. “It’s a threat… and it’s a crisis,” he added.

Port Hardy, located at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, serves a population of approximately 4,000, which includes three nearby First Nations communities. Since the closure of the local ER, residents have relied on Port McNeill, located south of Port Hardy, for overnight emergency services.

Island Health, the regional health authority, acknowledged the ongoing challenges in reopening the ER. In a statement, the organization noted that recruitment for the emergency room is still underway and reaffirmed its commitment to restore 24-hour services. However, Island Health clarified that “physician coverage is not the only limiting factor,” citing the need for ER-certified nurses and laboratory staff as additional obstacles.

Dr. Michelle Weizel, acting vice-president for medicine, quality, research, and acting chief medical officer at Island Health, addressed Dr. Nataros’s concerns by stating, “An emergency department requires more than physicians to operate 24-7.” She highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve recruitment and expressed appreciation for the local physicians willing to work in the emergency department.

In a controversial statement, Dr. Nataros suggested that the difficulties in recruiting doctors for the ER may relate to remarks he made in February 2023, during which he called for the resignation of Island Health’s chief medical health officer, Bill Williams. This claim raises questions about the dynamics between local healthcare providers and the regional health authority.

As the pressure mounts for the reopening of the Port Hardy emergency room, community members are left in a precarious situation, relying on neighboring facilities while awaiting a resolution to the ongoing staffing challenges. The demand for a functioning emergency room highlights not only the needs of Port Hardy but also the broader issues facing rural healthcare across Canada.