A new webpage has been launched by Northern Health to keep residents notified about emergency department closures. (Image Credit: Northern Health)

By Adam Berls

healthcare

Northern Health launches emergency department status webpage

Jan 22, 2026 | 3:00 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Northern B.C. residents needing emergency department care have a new resource to let them know how to access care in the event local services are interrupted.

Northern Health has launched an emergency department (ED) status webpage to notify the public in real time about service interruptions at their local facility due to staffing challenges.

According to the provincial government, the website “indicates the status of emergency department services around the Northern Health region, stating whether a facility’s emergency department is open or temporarily closed.”

“Given the geographic realities of a region as large as Northern Health, where hospital facilities are relatively distant from one another, current emergency department status is the key information for community residents to have access to,” said Lisa Zetes-Zanatta, vice-president of clinical operations, Northern Health. “Our partners in patient transport are always aware of local ED operations and challenges and of the need to ensure patients are transported to the appropriate facility for their care.”

In a news release from the province, it says that “Northern Health examined various models and determined that the status of local emergency departments is more informative than comparisons of wait times between facilities that vary in size, the scope of care provided and the distances between them.” The provincial ministry of health says that Northern Health’s Emergency Department Stabilization Task Force, which was established in 2024, “contributed to an approximately 35% decrease in the number of service interruptions regionwide in the first seven months of 2025.”

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“When emergency departments are temporarily unavailable for any reason, the most important thing for someone facing a medical emergency is knowing where to go for care,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This webpage helps people quickly see the status of emergency departments in their community and find clear information about other options when they need non-emergency care.”

In addition to the new website, Northern Health will continue to share information about expected service interruptions on social media and other channels.

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com