The erratic closures of the emergency room at Port Hardy hospital are not acceptable, said North Island MLA Claire Trevena.

“The Vancouver Island Health Authority has to seriously address staffing for our rural communities and our rural hospitals,” said Trevena. “And we have to see a commitment to rural health care from the incoming Minister of Health.

“Too often the doors of Port Hardy’s emergency room are closed because of a shortage of doctors or a shortage of nurses. That means there is something wrong with the system – that we cannot find the trained professionals to work in our communities.”

The latest closure at Port Hardy hospital was because of a doctor shortage. Patients who needed emergency care had to go to Port McNeill.

“If an emergency room is closed, health care is compromised. I think we should all expect better from our health system,” said Trevena.

She is calling on the incoming Minister of Health to tackle the ongoing problem of healthcare staffing in rural communities.