Port Alberni — Island Health is pleased to announce that the temporary pause on certain inpatient admissions at West Coast General Hospital (WCGH) in Port Alberni is over. Hospitalist services resumed this morning - Wednesday, December 24, 2025 - ensuring patients have access to the care they need close to home.
Thanks to exceptional work by our local physician leadership, with support from the entirety of Island Health and the Ministry of Health, we have secured a commitment from enough Hospitalist physicians to sustainably resume the service. We continue to work with our physician partners to fill out the schedule; however, we are confident there will not be further prolonged service interruptions for inpatient care in the near future. With Hospitalist coverage restored, patients who require admission will once again be cared for at WCGH, whenever clinically appropriate.
Island Health extends its gratitude to the community, First Nations partners, and health-care teams across the region for their support and collaboration during this challenging time. We remain committed to sustaining and enhancing services at WCGH, ensuring reliable access to care for people in the Alberni Valley and West Coast.
The emergency department at WCGH has remained open 24/7 throughout and that continues. If you require emergency care, do not wait — call 911 or go to WCGH immediately. Highly trained physicians, nurses, and care teams are ready to respond to emergency medical needs. The Intensive Care Unit diversion continues at WCGH for patients who require admission to critical care services.
Island Health sincerely thanks the physicians, nurses and staff in hospitals across the region for their extraordinary efforts during the temporary pause on some inpatient admissions at WCGH. Their dedication, flexibility, and commitment to patient safety was critical in maintaining care and supporting necessary transfers. We know this has been a challenging time for the Alberni Valley, West Coast communities and our staff and medical staff at WCGH, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and other hospitals in the region. We deeply appreciate the understanding and support shown by residents and partners.