More staff needed in rural ERs, says Doctors of B.C. president – CBC

Dr. Joshua Greggain says provincial funding is helpful, but more medical professionals are needed to fill gaps

Feb 22, 2023

After spending the long weekend in an understaffed, often closed emergency room, the president of Doctors of B.C. is echoing calls for increased staffing in rural hospitals.

Dr. Joshua Greggain, who practises out of Hope, B.C., travelled to Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island last week to help out with staffing shortages and observe how the hospital is handling it.

“As a rural family physician, I get to do a lot of things, and one of those things is to go and pitch in in places that are a bit short-staffed or could use some more physicians and nurses,” he told All Points West host Jason D’Souza.

Last month, the province announced that the Port Hardy Hospital’s emergency room would be open from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., closing overnight, as a result of ongoing staffing shortages. Residents were told they’d have to travel to Port McNeil for emergency medical care during those off-hours.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/more-staff-needed-in-rural-ers-1.6755802