Residents of Mission, British Columbia, will face limited access to emergency medical services over the New Year period as the local hospital grapples with an ongoing shortage of doctors.
Reduced Hours for Holiday Period
Beginning on Monday, December 29, and continuing until Tuesday, January 6, the emergency department at Mission Memorial Hospital will only be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The facility will be closed overnight throughout this nine-day stretch. Fraser Health has confirmed that full 24-hour emergency service will resume at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 7.
The health authority issued a notice on Friday, stating it is working to prevent further disruptions. "We will continue to make every effort to prevent further service adaptations. If any future adaptations are required, we will communicate them to the community in advance," the Fraser Health notice read.
A Recurring Challenge for Mission
This is not an isolated incident for the community hospital. Mission Memorial has been repeatedly forced to scale back its emergency services due to a lack of available physicians. The emergency room was notably closed on Halloween night this year.
According to reports, the Mission ER has closed at least three times in 2025 and four times in 2024, highlighting a persistent and systemic issue. Dr. Paul Theron, the site medical director at Mission Memorial Hospital, emphasized the importance of reliable emergency care. "Knowing that emergency services are reliably available is important for us and our community," he said.
Where to Go for Care During the Closure
During the overnight hours when the Mission ER is closed, the department will still be staffed by emergency-trained nurses who can provide basic care. However, patients with more serious or urgent medical needs will be redirected to neighboring hospitals in the Fraser Health region.
Fraser Health acknowledges that the struggles at Mission Memorial are part of broader pressures felt by healthcare systems across Canada. The authority says it is actively engaged in physician recruitment efforts to stabilize services in Mission and other affected communities.
