The Fort St John Hospital is experiencing a higher-than-usual number of patients, and as a result, is cautioning people who may seek care at the hospital of longer wait times.
The city’s residents were advised of the increased wait times at various departments within the Fort St John Hospital, including its emergency room. To reduce this strain on healthcare resources, the health authority requested people with less urgent needs visit their regular care provider or a virtual clinic.
When identifying if a need is urgent enough to warrant a hospital visit, people can consult HealthLink B.C.’s website or get in touch with a representative by calling 8-1-1.
Northern Health said their emergency rooms triage their patients, this means those with the most urgent needs, such as a sudden change in breathing, chest pains, severe bleeding, or eye injuries, are seen first. People waiting in the emergency room with less serious medical needs may experience longer wait times as staff tries to work through people experiencing dire issues.
There is no data available discussing exactly how many residents in the city have designated primary care providers, such family doctors or nurse practitioners, but it is known that the northern region of the province suffers with the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.
People who do not have a regular doctor are advised to use Northern Health’s virtual clinic, which operates daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pharmacists are also allowed to treat 21 minor ailments, including UTIs, shingles, and cold sores, they can also prescribe most birth control pills and methods to B.C. residents.
