Mission Memorial Hospital emergency department closed for third consecutive Sunday

Patients in Mission continue to face disruptions to emergency care after Mission Memorial Hospital's emergency department was temporarily closed for a third consecutive Sunday.

According to Fraser Health, the closure was caused by an ongoing shortage of physicians available to staff the department. The health authority said it is continuing recruitment efforts aimed at stabilizing services and addressing staffing challenges at the hospital.

The emergency department closed at 5 p.m. Sunday and reopened at 8 a.m. Monday, according to hospital service notices. During the closure, patients requiring emergency care were directed to seek treatment at nearby hospitals.

Dr. James Varkeyntin said the physician shortage is not limited to Mission or the Fraser Health region, describing it as a provincial and national challenge affecting health-care systems across Canada.

He said there is hope that recruitment efforts currently underway will help address staffing shortages at Mission Memorial Hospital in the coming months.