STARTING August 16, UBC Hospital Emergency Department (ED) will temporarily adjust admitting hours and receive patients between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The temporary change by two hours will allow staff and physicians to complete their scheduled shifts on time.
“Increasing patient arrival volumes, especially at the end of the day, has meant that staff and medical staff at UBC Hospital ED are routinely working well beyond their scheduled shifts into the early hours of the morning to deliver care to those who arrive at the hospital in the late evening. The uncertainty of not knowing the last shift end time is creating burnout and loss of medical and other staff within the ED healthcare team and is not sustainable,” said Dr. Ladan Sadrehashemi, Senior Medical Director, Vancouver Acute at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), on Monday.
As a temporary measure, UBC Hospital ED will receive patients until 8 p.m. rather than 10 p.m. VCH said this enables it to assess appropriate emergency physician coverage across acute care sites in Vancouver, ensuring a consistent delivery of safe, quality patient care.
These temporary adjustments will not impact B.C. Emergency Health Services, which will continue to provide patient transports to UBC Hospital ED until 6 p.m.
Those requiring urgent care after 8 p.m. from August 16 onwards should seek treatment at other local sites, including Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) ED, St. Paul’s Hospital ED, or, for children and youth, at B.C. Children’s Hospital, which is an approximate 15-minute drive within Vancouver.
Work is underway to identify interim and long-term options for managing patient volumes at UBC Hospital.
VCH said it deeply appreciates the support and understanding of patients and residents in nearby communities and advises the public to access care in the most appropriate location. Non-urgent health concerns can be treated at Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs), by family doctors or at walk-in clinics. You may also call 8-1-1 to speak to a healthcare professional.
UBC Hospital ED continues to be prepared to safely receive patients during operating hours. VCH said it strongly advises the public to seek care when they need it. If you have a critical health concern, visit your nearest emergency department or call 9-1-1 for assistance.
