Mission Memorial Hospital's emergency department will close at 5 p.m. Monday due to a persistent doctor shortage, leaving patients to seek care elsewhere overnight. The department is scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to Fraser Health.
Overnight Closure Details
Anyone already in the emergency department by 5 p.m. will be seen by a physician before their shift ends at 11 p.m., the health authority confirmed. After that, emergency-trained nurses will be available to assess walk-in patients with basic needs and redirect those requiring urgent care to nearby hospitals.
Coordination with Emergency Services
Fraser Health is working with B.C. Emergency Health Services to ensure patients are transported to the most appropriate facility for emergent care. Residents experiencing life-threatening emergencies such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding should call 911 and will be taken to the nearest available hospital.
Ongoing Staffing Challenges
This closure follows a series of temporary ER shutdowns at Mission Memorial over the past year, although the situation had recently improved. Fraser Health acknowledged the importance of consistent emergency access for the Mission community and stated they are actively recruiting physicians to fill staffing gaps and prevent future disruptions.
“We recognize how important consistent access to emergency care is for the Mission community and we are actively working to address physician staffing gaps as they arise to maintain service continuity,” Fraser Health said in a statement.
Services Not Affected
The service interruption only affects the emergency department. All other services at Mission Memorial Hospital remain operational, and all other Fraser Health emergency departments are open as usual.
For non-life-threatening urgent care needs during the closure, residents are advised to visit fraserhealth.ca for guidance on alternative options.
