Hospital's ER Department Lacks Physicians on Sunday Night at Mission Memorial Hospital
In the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Fraser Health is taking steps to address staffing issues in its emergency departments (EDs) that have been causing temporary service interruptions and closures.
The ongoing physician staffing shortages have led to recurring issues at smaller community hospitals, such as Mission Memorial Hospital, where patients have been diverted on multiple occasions this year. The situation is not unique to smaller communities, as staffing issues have also affected larger hospitals in the Vancouver area.
To tackle these challenges, Fraser Health has implemented a multi-faceted approach. One key initiative is the $18 million renovation and expansion of the Mission Memorial Hospital ED, which will increase capacity from 17 to 41 care spaces. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with completion expected by spring 2027. This expansion aims to better accommodate patient volume and improve working conditions.
In the meantime, Fraser Health has employed contingency plans such as temporary service interruptions with emergency-trained nurses on site to support walk-in patients and redirect urgent cases to other facilities. During these interruptions, nurses will provide care for patients with non-urgent needs.
To stabilise emergency services staffing, Fraser Health is actively working to address shortages by recruiting healthcare workers, including a targeted cross-border recruitment campaign in the U.S., resulting in over 150 applications. The organisation also emphasises the need for province-wide stabilisation plans to avoid shifting staffing problems between regions, suggesting collaboration with the Ministry of Health and reducing regulatory barriers to facilitate easier practice across health authorities.
Support services teams have been relocated into the new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower at Royal Columbian Hospital to improve overall hospital operations and management efficiency, indirectly supporting ED function.
Fraser Health advises anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency to call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. For those arriving before 5 p.m., they will be seen by a physician before their shift ends at 11 p.m. However, anyone arriving after 5 p.m. will not be seen by a doctor during the service interruption, which is expected to last until 8 a.m. on Monday.
High numbers of people seeking care and human resources challenges may lead to longer wait times for patients with non-urgent care concerns in many Fraser Health hospital EDs. The organisation acknowledges that these challenges could affect multiple hospitals, not just Mission Memorial.
In summary, Fraser Health’s current approach combines infrastructure expansion, workforce recruitment including international applicants, temporary operational adjustments, and coordination efforts at the provincial level to address the complex staffing challenges in EDs across the Lower Mainland region.
In an effort to address the ongoing staffing issues in emergency departments (EDs), Fraser Health is fostering a multi-faceted approach that includes infrastructure expansion, workforce recruitment from international applicants, temporary operational adjustments, and provincial-level collaboration to improve health and wellness. Moreover, Fraser Health is also actively focusing on medical-conditions management during service interruptions by providing care for patients with non-urgent needs through temporary staffing with emergency-trained nurses.
