The emergency department at Mission Memorial Hospital experienced a significant service disruption during the Halloween weekend, leaving residents without local emergency care for nearly two full days.
Extended Closure Timeline
The emergency room first closed its doors at 5:30 p.m. on Halloween evening and remained shuttered throughout the night. While services briefly resumed the following morning, the ER faced another complete closure starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 1st, extending through the entire day on Saturday.
Staffing Crisis Forces Shutdown
Fraser Health authorities confirmed the closures resulted from critical staffing shortages, particularly affecting nursing positions. This marks the latest in a series of temporary ER closures affecting rural and community hospitals across British Columbia.
Patient Diversion During Closure
During the shutdown periods, emergency patients were redirected to neighboring facilities:
- Abbotsford Regional Hospital
- Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster
- Langley Memorial Hospital
Ambulance services were notified of the diversion protocol, ensuring patients in critical condition reached appropriate care facilities.
Growing Pattern of Healthcare Disruptions
Mission Memorial Hospital has experienced multiple temporary ER closures throughout 2023, highlighting systemic staffing challenges in BC's healthcare system. The Halloween weekend disruption particularly concerned local officials due to increased emergency risks associated with holiday activities.
Fraser Health emphasized that all other hospital services at Mission Memorial continued operating normally during the ER closures, including scheduled surgeries and outpatient appointments.
