Patients turned away by 'closed' sign at B.C. hospital's emergency room
CTV
Officials are investigating after patients were turned away from a hospital emergency room in Williams Lake, B.C., this week by a “closed” sign posted on the door.
Officials are investigating after patients were turned away from a hospital emergency room in Williams Lake, B.C., this week by a “closed” sign posted on the door.
“The emergency room is closed unless patient is imminently dying,” read the sign, which was posted Monday. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”
The sign had been taken down by Tuesday morning. The B.C. government and Interior Health are adamant that the hospital’s emergency department was not closed, but Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rather told CTV News he knows of multiple people who were turned away, and he is upset.
“I’m concerned, there’s no question,” Rather said.
Interior Health apologized Thursday for any confusion cause by the sign, and to those turned away by it. The health authority acknowledged there are staffing challenges in Williams Lake, and that the hospital was short staffed Monday night, requiring them to call in help.
It’s not known who put up the sign, only that it was done from the inside of the ER.
“If staff put the sign on, there has to be a reason – a shortage of staff, or somebody called in sick, or something,” said Rather Thursday..
