Doctor Urges 24/7 Reopening of Port Hardy Emergency Room

The medical director of the North Island Community Health Centre, Dr. Alex Nataros, is advocating for the reopening of Port Hardy’s emergency room, which has been closed overnight for the past 31 months. Acknowledging the presence of multiple physicians in the community, he expressed confusion over the ongoing closure of the emergency services at Port Hardy Hospital, despite the town’s population of around 4,000 residents.

Dr. Nataros highlighted the availability of at least eight doctors in Port Hardy, all of whom have indicated their willingness to work in the emergency room. Prior to the closure, the ER operated with three to four doctors on duty during night hours. “I don’t understand why this has happened,” he stated. “When we have enough doctors, it’s a threat to the over 5,000 patients that we look after at the North Island Community Health Centre, and it’s a crisis.”

Located on the northern tip of Vancouver Island, Port Hardy serves not only its own residents but also three nearby First Nations communities. During the closure, residents have had to rely on Port McNeill, located south of Port Hardy, for overnight emergency services.

Island Health, the regional health authority, responded to Dr. Nataros’s comments through an emailed statement, indicating that efforts to recruit staff for the emergency room are ongoing. While emphasizing their commitment to restoring 24-hour services, they noted that “physician coverage is not the only limiting factor.” The organization pointed out the requirement for ER-certified nurses and laboratory staff as additional challenges.

Dr. Michelle Weizel, acting vice-president for medicine, quality, research, and acting chief medical officer at Island Health, remarked, “Dr. Nataros would be aware an emergency department requires more than physicians to operate 24-7.” She affirmed that Island Health continues to focus on recruitment efforts and encourages all doctors registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons to apply for privileges at their facilities.

Despite the assurances, Dr. Nataros voiced concerns that the difficulties in recruiting doctors for the emergency room may be due to punitive measures from Island Health, stemming from his public call for the resignation of chief medical health officer Bill Williams in February 2023.

As the debate continues over the future of emergency services in Port Hardy, the community remains anxious about the implications of the ongoing closure. The need for accessible emergency care remains critical, especially given the town’s demographic and geographical factors.