A spokesperson for the Fraser Health Authority says Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody is open and continues to accept patients.
Tuesday morning, Nov. 19, a post circulating on social media said beds in the hospital’s emergency department are being closed due to overcapacity.
An attached photo showed a typed note urging people to contact Port Coquitlam MLA Mike Farnworth, whose constituency doesn’t include the hospital. It's unclear where the note was posted, or who posted it.
Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West further amplified the concern on his X account, writing, “Very disturbing to hear that the only hospital in the Tri-Cities, Eagle Ridge Hospital, was turning people away from the emergency room yesterday.”
Very disturbing to hear that the only hospital in the Tri-Cities, Eagle Ridge Hospital, was turning people away from the emergency room yesterday with patients told ER beds were closed. Have heard scary stories of what this meant for people needing care.
— Brad West (@BradWestPoCo) November 19, 2024
The post received more than 13,000 views and was reposted 71 times.
West told the Tri-City News his post was based on concerns about excessively long wait times at Eagle Ridge raised by residents who've contacted him directly. He said many have been told to go elsewhere for care.
"This is basically a functional closure for patients requiring care," West said.
"The real point is that the Tri-Cities has a fast-growing population and the current health care system is struggling to meet those needs."
Fraser Health said any announcement of bed closures at a hospital would be posted on its website and distributed to media.
Wait times for emergency rooms are also posted on its website.
As of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the wait time for Eagle Ridge was 3 hours and 47 minutes.
At Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, the wait time was 3 hours and 15 minutes, while at Burnaby Hospital it was 3 hours and 35 minutes.
Fraser Health also operates an urgent and primary care centre at 3105 Murray St. where patients can walk in for treatment of issues like cuts, wounds or skin conditions, infections, sprains and strains, new or worsening pain, nausea, diarrhea and mental health concerns such as low mood, anxiety or depression.
In 2022, Eagle Ridge Hospital completed a $37.5-million upgrade of its emergency department that tripled its size and included 20 new treatment rooms — more than double its previous capactiy of 19.
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