Mission Memorial Hospital ER Faces Another Overnight Closure
The emergency department at Mission Memorial Hospital will be closed overnight on Sunday, November 9, due to a critical shortage of available doctors. This marks the latest in a series of recurring service interruptions that have plagued the Fraser Health region, including a recent closure on Halloween night.
Details of the Service Interruption
The health authority has confirmed the ER will shut its doors at 5 p.m. on Sunday and is scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 10. Any patients already present in the emergency department at the 5 p.m. closure time will be seen by a physician whose shift concludes at 11 p.m.
All other hospital services at the Mission facility will continue to operate normally during this period. To manage patient care, emergency-trained nurses will remain on-site. Their role will be to support walk-in patients requiring basic care, assist with redirecting patients, and facilitate transfers for those with urgent medical needs to a neighbouring hospital.
Guidance for Patients and Residents
Fraser Health is coordinating with BC Emergency Health Services to ensure patients requiring a higher level of care are directed to an appropriate alternative facility. The authority has issued clear guidelines for the public:
- Anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency—such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding—should call 911 immediately. Paramedics will transport them to the nearest available and appropriate facility.
- To prevent overcrowding at other open emergency rooms, individuals with non-urgent health concerns are urged to seek alternative options.
Recommended alternatives for non-urgent care include:
- Calling the Fraser Health Crisis Line anytime at 1-877-820-7444.
- Using the virtual care service at 1-800-314-0999 to speak with a nurse from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
- Calling HealthLink BC at 811 outside of the virtual care hours to connect with a health service navigator or a registered nurse.
A Recurring Problem for the Community
This is not an isolated incident for Mission Memorial Hospital. The ER has been forced to shut down repeatedly in recent years because of persistent physician shortages. This upcoming closure will be the fourth such occurrence in 2025 alone, following three previous closures this year and four that took place in 2024.
Fraser Health has stated that it is actively working on strategies to address the underlying physician shortages and maintain continuity of service for the community. The authority expressed appreciation for the public's patience and support, and thanked hospital staff, medical staff, and BC Emergency Health Services personnel for their continued dedication to providing quality care despite these challenges.
