News Release: Delta Council Unanimously Adopts Resolutions in Response to Hospital Closures

Delta Council called an emergency Special Meeting on Monday, February 24, 2025, in response to two overnight service interruptions at the Delta Hospital emergency department and their profound impact on the surrounding community. 

Motions were made by Council and the following resolutions were adopted unanimously:

MOTION #1

THAT a letter from the Mayor on behalf of Delta Council be sent to Premier David Eby, Minister of Health Josie Osborne, and Fraser Health Interim CEO Dr. Lynn Stevenson, expressing serious concerns regarding the closure of the Delta Hospital Emergency Department on the nights of February 22 and 23 and requesting information regarding steps the Province is taking to ensure the Delta Hospital Emergency Department remains fully open.

AND THAT the letter includes the following points with respect to the importance of the Delta Hospital Emergency Department to the community:        

  1. Provides an essential service for residents of Delta, Tsawwassen First Nation, and those employed within Delta’s diverse industrial and commercial sectors, as well as BC Ferries passengers and commuters on Delta’s Highway 99, 91, 17, and 17a network. 
  2. Other facilities in Richmond, Surrey, and New Westminster are at capacity and access can be cut off by traffic and incidents on highways including at the George Massey Tunnel.
  3. Delta residents have fought hard for the hospital, both in preventing the long-term closure of the Emergency Room overnight in the early 2000’s, and to get the hospital's acute-care status restored after being downgraded by the Province.

AND THAT the above letter be copied to Delta’s two MLAs and Delta’s MP.

MOTION #2

THAT representatives from Fraser Health Authority responsible for the Delta Hospital Emergency Department including staff with direct knowledge of the current state of the Emergency Department, be invited to attend the March 3, 2025 meeting of Council to provide a presentation to Council, as well as answer questions on this subject. 

MOTION #3

THAT staff report back at the next Regular Council meeting with a proposed UBCM resolution for Council’s consideration on the need for sustainable funding and continuous operations for emergency and urgent care health services throughout the Province.

For more information on this news release, please contact media@delta.ca.