Peace Arch Hospital becomes third Vancouver-area ER to turn away some patients

On Friday, Peace Arch Hospital became the third Vancouver-area hospital to turn away non-urgent patients from the emergency department, a situation the province and health authorities have kept a closely-guarded secret.

On Friday, Peace Arch Hospital became the third Vancouver-area hospital to turn away non-urgent patients from the emergency department, a situation the province and health authorities have kept a closely-guarded secret.

In rural and remote communities, health authorities have notified the public that they may have to travel hours to find an open ED, but they have not done so in the densely-populated Lower Mainland where most of British Columbia’s population lives. 

While the department is open, patients told CTV News that when they went to Peace Arch Hospital early Friday afternoon, a nurse greeted them at the door and was only allowing those with serious issues to continue to the triage desk, suggesting others go elsewhere for care in what’s known as a “partial diversion.”

Despite several requests, Fraser Health has not provided information about the situation, which is caused by a shortage of doctors.

“This then overwhelms nearby hospitals, being Surrey Memorial,” said Dr. Claudine Storness-Bliss, an obstetrician-gynecologist at SMH and BC United candidate. “I would expect longer wait times tonight, probably closer to 20 hours or so when people are waiting in the emergency room.”

Fraser Health acknowledged that on July 23, Mission Memorial Hospital turned away all patients from its emergency department overnight due to a physician shortage, and the health authority refused to call it a diversion, instead calling it “service adaptations.” It’s unclear if the same thing will happen Friday, Aug. 2 given sources say the overnight physician shift remains unfilled. 

A whistleblower contacted CTV News about a similar issue in Vancouver Coastal Health, and that health authority reluctantly confirmed that on July 17, Lions Gate Hospital’s ED “was temporarily on a partial diversion” for several hours “due to an increase in the volume of patients seeking care” and only the most critical patients received medical treatment.