On behalf of City of Mission Council, Mayor Paul Horn shared the following statement regarding the temporary emergency department service changes that took place Aug. 16 at 10 pm to Aug. 17 to 8 am.
“The City is aware that doctor shortages are affecting the entire province, but we are concerned about the specific impacts on Mission Memorial hospital.
“We have been informed by Fraser Health that they are trying to incentivize doctors to work these shifts, and that they are doing what they can to share doctors across sites. They are keeping us informed on a regular basis.
“We are looking for long term solutions and have met with MLAs during the past week. We are hoping to meet with Min Dix this coming week. The Ministry and Fraser Health have both indicated that our hospital is a priority. We are advocating for a planning process that will involve doctors and other healthcare professionals, as well as the community, with the aim of inspiring confidence in the long-term sustainability of this facility.
“The ER is currently undergoing renovations, so this may also be a factor in attracting and retaining staff. We expect that work to be completed over the next year, and our hope is that a newly refreshed facility will be more attractive to doctors and other medical staff. “
— Paul Horn, Mayor of the City of Mission