1 of 3 ICU beds at Port Alberni hospital reopens after months long closure

The intensive care unit at a hospital in Port Alberni has now reopened one of its three beds, after a full closure of the unit in November. The post 1 of 3 ICU beds at Port Alberni hospital reopens after months long closure appeared first on CHEK .

The intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital in Port Alberni has now reopened one of its three beds, after a full closure of the unit in November. Staff shortages forced the closure of the ICU at the West Coast General Hospital on Nov. 20, 2025. At the time, Island Health said it had a shortage of specialty-trained registered nurses and physicians.

READ PREVIOUS: ICU at Port Alberni hospital closed indefinitely due to staff shortage On Tuesday, Josie Osborne, B.C.’s health minister and the MLA for the area, announced on Facebook that one of the beds had reopened in May. “Since mid-May, one ICU bed has been available for patient admissions,” Osborne said in the Facebook post. “Island Health remains focused on fully and permanently reopening remaining beds, one at a time, as they strategically rebuild staffing levels and a sustainable, stable service model.”

Island Health confirmed to CHEK News the one ICU bed had reopened on May 13, and has stayed open every day since, with the exception of one day due to CT unit downtime. “This is a significant increase from our baseline and capacity continues to improve as new staff complete orientation,” Island Health said in a statement. The health authority says that it has hired 10 new nurses at the West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni to work in the emergency department and ICU, and is expecting at least 10 more to begin working through the summer and fall.

One full time and two part time internal medicine physicians have also been added, and there are “at least” eight locums who regularly travel to work at the hospital. “We will monitor the situation in the months ahead, as staff continue to complete necessary training and orientation,” Island Health said. “It is important to setup the new, incoming team members for long-term success.

That is why we are taking this phased approach, to ensure robust onboarding, mentorship and support so staff can learn the system and local landscape and uphold high standards of patient safety.” Osborne said that while this is positive progress, there is still work to do. “Challenges remain – and there is still a lot of hard work ahead – but these are meaningful steps forward, and they would not have happened without collaboration and hard work by health-care workers, physicians, hospital leadership, Indigenous partners, volunteers, community organizations, donors, and residents, all of whom are dedicated to supporting and strengthening health care in our region,” she wrote.

READ PREVIOUS: Concern grows over Port Alberni ICU closure, but experts echo ‘you will be taken care of’ Island Health makes urgent plea for staffing West Coast General Hospital Island Health pauses some inpatient admissions at Port Alberni hospital amid hospitalist shortage The post 1 of 3 ICU beds at Port Alberni hospital reopens after months long closure appeared first on CHEK .