Northern Health is asking Mackenzie residents to use the hospital emergency room wisely due to the departure of a doctor.
Since one of two full-time doctors left recently, emergency room coverage has been by the remaining doctor with help from locum (visiting substitute) physicians.
Two closures of the emergency room are scheduled from 6 p.m. March 10 to 6 p.m. March 12, and from 4 a.m. March 24 to 9 p.m. March 26. The rest of the hospital will remain open.
Residents who aren't sure if a condition warrants an emergency visit can call HealthLink BC at 811.
NH is working to recruit both permanent and locum physicians to the community, and is working with physicians and the community on both short and long-term solutions to the recruitment challenges.
--btrick@pgcitizen.ca
