Mission Memorial Hospital to Operate Emergency Department on Limited Schedule During Daytime Hours
Mission Memorial Hospital will continue operating its Emergency Department on reduced daytime hours through May 4 as Fraser Health extends temporary service changes tied to staffing constraints and ongoing redevelopment of the facility.
From April 7 to May 4, the Emergency Department at Mission Memorial Hospital will operate daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to Fraser Health. The health authority said the temporary schedule is intended “to support the community with safe, consistent access to emergency care aligned with available staffing.”
After 5:00 p.m., emergency-trained nurses will remain on site to assist walk-in patients requiring basic care, provide redirection to alternate care options, and arrange transfers for patients with urgent medical needs to neighbouring hospitals.
Renovation Project Accelerated Following 2024 Flood Damage
Fraser Health said the hospital’s Emergency Department is undergoing an accelerated $18-million expansion and renovation project aimed at restoring and upgrading the facility after major flood damage sustained in 2024.
The redevelopment is expected to increase treatment capacity and modernize the emergency care environment while improving the site’s long-term resilience.
“At the same time, an $18 million expansion and renovation project of the Emergency Department to restore and significantly upgrade the facility following major flood damage in 2024 is being accelerated to increase treatment capacity and deliver a modern, more resilient care environment, as quickly as possible,” Fraser Health said.
Construction work is being fast-tracked during the temporary operating change in an effort to reduce the overall project timeline.
The health authority added that completing the renovation remains central to its broader physician recruitment strategy.
Recruitment Efforts Continue as Fraser Health Seeks to Stabilize Services
Fraser Health said it continues to actively recruit physicians and other health-care staff to support full Emergency Department operations and avoid further service disruptions.
“We are continuing to make every effort to recruit more staff and prevent further service adaptations,” the health authority said. “If any future adaptations are required, we will communicate them to the community in advance.”
The organization said several physician candidates are currently progressing through the hiring process and are expected to improve staffing coverage in the coming months.
“We continue to actively strengthen physician recruitment at Mission Memorial Hospital, supported by a dedicated team focused on national and international recruitment,” Fraser Health said. “Several physician candidates are currently moving through the hiring process and are expected to help improve coverage in the coming months.”
Alternative Emergency and Urgent Care Options Available
Fraser Health emphasized that emergency care remains accessible for residents of Mission and surrounding communities throughout the temporary schedule adjustment.
Outside of the Emergency Department’s operating hours, residents experiencing a medical emergency are advised to call 9-1-1, with paramedics assessing patients and transporting them to the most appropriate emergency department based on clinical need.
For non-life-threatening medical concerns, Fraser Health said residents can seek care through the community’s expanded Urgent and Primary Care Centre services.
Patients can also contact Fraser Health Virtual Care at 1-800-314-0999 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily to speak with a registered nurse for health-care advice.
Fraser Health Reaffirms Commitment to Community Access
Fraser Health said the temporary operating model is designed to maintain safe and reliable emergency access while staffing recruitment and construction work continue.
“We know how important access to emergency care is for the community,” the health authority said. “These temporary hours of operation help us provide safe, reliable care for the community while our recruitment efforts continue. Our focus remains ensuring patients and families receive the care they need, safely and responsibly.”
Fraser Health serves communities across British Columbia’s Fraser Salish region through a workforce of more than 50,000 staff, medical professionals and volunteers. The health authority also acknowledged that its services are delivered on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and support 32 First Nations within the region.