Port Alice Health Centre Closes Weekend Services Due to Staffing Issues

The Port Alice Health Centre will be closed for the weekend due to a shortage of nursing staff, leaving residents with limited access to urgent care. The closure began at 08:30 on Friday, July 28, 2025, and is expected to last until 08:30 on Monday, July 31, 2025. The nearest urgent health care facilities—Port McNeill Hospital and Port Hardy Hospital—are each approximately a 45-minute drive away.

The health centre posted a notice explaining that the closure affects both urgent and primary care services. In an email to CHEK News, Dominic Abassi, spokesperson for Island Health, characterized the situation as a “temporary, isolated issue for this weekend due to a last-minute sick call.” He further noted that attempts were made to find replacement nursing staff, but those available were already engaged at nearby hospitals.

Residents are encouraged to call ahead if they plan to visit Port McNeill or Port Hardy hospitals to confirm they can receive care. In cases of emergency, individuals should call 911, while the 811 hotline remains available for non-emergency health inquiries.

Ongoing Staffing Challenges in North Island Health Care

The staffing shortages impacting the Port Alice Health Centre are part of a broader crisis in the region’s health care system. Throughout 2022, both Port Hardy and Port McNeill hospitals faced repeated closures due to insufficient nursing staff. At that time, a representative from the British Columbia Nurses’ Union highlighted that nurses often had to travel between the two hospitals to maintain one emergency department’s operation.

The Cormorant Island Community Health Centre in Alert Bay also experienced several closures in 2022 due to similar staffing shortages. In response to these ongoing challenges, the provincial government of British Columbia announced a significant investment of $30 million at the start of 2023 to bolster health care services on the North Island.

Despite these efforts, the situation remains precarious. The recent closure of the Port Alice Health Centre serves as a reminder of the critical need for sustainable solutions to ensure adequate health care access for residents in rural and remote areas. As the health care system continues to navigate these challenges, community members are left to rely on the resources available, often with limited options during emergencies.