Mission Memorial Hospital emergency department closes overnight again amid physician shortage

Mission Memorial Hospital's emergency department was temporarily closed overnight once again due to a shortage of physicians, according to Fraser Health.

The health authority said the emergency department was closed from 5 p.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday because of staffing challenges. Patients requiring emergency care during that period were directed to nearby hospitals.

Mission Memorial Hospital has experienced several temporary emergency department service disruptions in recent months. Fraser Health has repeatedly stated that it is working to recruit additional physicians to stabilize services at the facility.

The latest closure comes just one week after a similar overnight shutdown at the hospital. Earlier this year, from March 14 to May 4, the emergency department's operating hours were reduced to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily despite normally providing 24-hour service.

According to Fraser Health, recruitment efforts remain ongoing. The health authority has not announced a timeline for when staffing levels will be sufficient to prevent future service interruptions.