Whereas access to emergency medical services is critical for all British Columbians and hospital emergency department closures severely disrupt critical healthcare access, potentially endangering communities and lives by delaying urgent medical treatment; And whereas reliable communication and immediate notification during hospital emergency department closures is essential to ensure the public is informed of alternate healthcare facilities, preventing unnecessary delays; And whereas a reliable and immediate notification system to alert the public to emergency department closures and alternate care locations is not in place: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the provincial government establish a standardized emergency notification system, utilizing platforms such as text alerts, mobile alert applications and local media to inform the public of temporary emergency department closures and directing residents to the nearest available healthcare facilities.
