I am writing this to share our recent experience with emergency medical care in Tumbler Ridge and to raise serious concerns about the level of service provided by Northern Health.
On Thursday, March 26, I woke up to my two-week-old son struggling to breathe. His chest was retracting, and his lips were beginning to turn blue. We immediately went to the Tumbler Ridge ER, where we were admitted at 10am. He was placed on oxygen, and our doctor consulted with a paediatrician in Vancouver via tablet. A chest X-ray was performed, and suction was used to help relieve his congestion.
The doctor determined our son needed to be transferred to pediatric care in Prince George, approximately 400km away. We were informed that Tumbler Ridge could not perform necessary blood cultures due to limited lab capabilities. We were told we would be airlifted by 1 pm.
At 1pm, we were advised the plane could not land because the runway had not been plowed. There was no official communication from the town or Northern Health indicating that there were zero medivac options available.
Around 2pm, an ambulance arrived, but paramedics stated they did not have the equipment required to transport a neonatal patient. During this time, we overheard staff discussing that our son may not be stable enough for transport.
After approximately 30 minutes, we were informed that we would be transported by ambulance to Dawson Creek to meet the plane. A nurse trained in patient transport created a makeshift restraint for our son using towels and blankets. Because the ambulance lacked appropriate oxygen equipment for neonatal patients, a different nurse brought additional equipment and accompanied us.
The nurse and paramedic assigned to us had not previously traveled to Dawson Creek. We departed Tumbler Ridge at 4pm. I advised the staff of the hazardous areas. The road conditions are known to be rough. We were fortunate the weather was stable.
We arrived at the Dawson Creek airport shortly after 5pm. The flight paramedics, who stated they specialize in neonatal transport, advised me they had not received proper equipment yet, and used a similar makeshift setup. We departed at 6pm and arrived in Prince George at 6:50 pm, then were transported directly to the hospital and admitted shortly after 7pm.
At Prince George, our son received appropriate care. He required extensive suctioning to manage congestion and secretions. Blood cultures were completed, and he was diagnosed with a strain of coronavirus. He was monitored until he could maintain his oxygen levels independently.
Throughout this experience, it was clear the medical staff were doing everything they could. They wanted to provide proper care but did not have the equipment required to support life-saving measures for neonatal patients. This is not a reflection of the front line staff, who were exceptional. We are grateful for their care.
These same staff have already endured significant strain this year, including responding to the mass shooting in our community without adequate equipment to effectively support the injured. Following that tragedy, Northern Health made public commitments suggesting additional support and resources would be provided. Based on our experience, those commitments have not been fulfilled.
This situation reflects broader issues in management, resource allocation, and lack of investment in essential, life-saving equipment and services.
Tumbler Ridge is a remote town, and the nearest medical facility is over 100km away. With the ER closed during evenings and weekends, access to emergency care is severely limited. If the ER had been closed when our son struggled to breathe, or if weather conditions had been poor, the outcome could have been very different.
We were fortunate. We may not be next time.
I urge you to advocate for consistent ER coverage in Tumbler Ridge, clear communication during service disruptions, and proper equipment and support for emergency and neonatal care.
