Vancouver ( Rajeev Sharma): Mission Memorial Hospital in Metro Vancouver will temporarily close its emergency department overnight for more than a week as Fraser Health works to manage staffing shortages and broader system pressures across the region. The emergency department will operate only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. from December 29 through January 6, with full 24-hour service expected to resume on January 7.
Fraser Health says the decision was made to ensure patient safety and provide more stable, predictable care during a period when there are not enough emergency physicians available to staff overnight shifts. Health officials have acknowledged that the hospital relies on a small group of emergency doctors and temporary locum physicians, and when overnight coverage cannot be safely maintained, hours must be reduced.
During the overnight closure, emergency-trained nurses will remain on site at Mission Memorial Hospital to assess walk-in patients. Those requiring urgent or life-threatening care will be redirected to nearby hospitals such as Abbotsford Regional Hospital or Ridge Meadows Hospital, and residents are being advised to call 911 in emergencies. Fraser Health says paramedic services will continue to support patient transfers when needed.
Hospital leadership has described the temporary closure as a necessary step to protect both patients and staff. Officials say ongoing recruitment efforts are underway, and at least one new emergency physician is expected to join the hospital early in the new year. “This is about aligning services with the staff we have available and avoiding unsafe gaps in care,” a Fraser Health spokesperson said, adding that the goal is to prevent last-minute closures and reduce burnout among health-care workers.
The announcement has drawn concern from community members, many of whom say repeated emergency department disruptions create anxiety, especially for seniors and families who may have to travel farther for urgent care. Some residents have expressed frustration on social media, calling for longer-term solutions to address physician shortages in smaller communities. Local leaders, while acknowledging those concerns, have said the temporary change is preferable to unpredictable closures and have urged the province to continue investing in health-care recruitment and retention.
Mission Memorial Hospital has experienced similar overnight emergency closures in the past, reflecting wider challenges facing British Columbia’s health-care system. Fraser Health maintains that the current measure is temporary and emphasizes that emergency care remains available in the region at all times.
