Take it Easy on PGRH Emergency Room This Weekend

Thursday, April 09, 2009 03:54 AM

Prince George, B.C.- Northern Health is asking that you use the emergency room at PGRH “wisely” this long weekend.

Long weekends tend to increase use of the ER because of the closure of physician offices, increased traffic on the roads ( meaning potential for injury accidents).

“Long weekends are typically busy times of year for hospital emergency and other resources,” said Anne Chisholm, Director of Patient Care at PGRH. “To keep wait times manageable for patients who urgently need medical attention, we’re asking residents to only visit the emergency room if they have an urgent medical condition.”

Northern Health’s emergency rooms provide care to patients who have experienced a sudden and/or unusual change in their health. This includes (but isn’t limited to) breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or pain, broken bones, chest pain and eye injuries. Patients with a non-urgent health issue are encouraged to book an appointment with a family doctor during their regular office hours, or access the walk-in clinic.

Patients who don’t know whether their condition would warrant an emergency room visit can first call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to obtain non-emergency health advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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