B.C. health authority sounds alarm over 'troubling' nursing shortage in Fort St. John
CBC
A British Columbia health authority says it is facing a severe nursing shortage in a northern city as staff face criticism from COVID-19 protesters.
Northern Health, which covers the northern half of B.C., says that other nurses are being diverted to the emergency room, which is affecting care in other wards.
That means in some areas of the hospital, there may only be one nurse available on a shift, according to the authority.
The health authority described the shortage as 'troubling,' and said the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened stress and contributed to longer wait times for emergency room patients.
Officials are urging residents to get COVID-19 vaccinations to help ease the load on health-care workers.
Though health-care workers have been described as 'heroes' over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Northern Health says staff are facing "brutal criticism" and insults from the public while on shift.
"This is unacceptable," the health authority said in a Facebook post.