Emergency

Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Site at Powell River Community Health

Powell River Airport planned shutdown: April 8 to June 9, 2024

From April 8 to June 9, 2024, the Powell River Airport is undergoing a planned shutdown to make upgrades to the runway.

During this time, patient safety, care and continuity of services remain our top priority. Due to the temporary closure, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is implementing several operational adjustments regarding qathet General Hospital (qGH) patient transfers, transportation of referred-out lab specimens, and staff and medical staff travel.

VCH is working with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to add additional helicopter services to transport those patients who would normally travel by fixed-wing air ambulance. High priority patients will continue to be transported by BCEHS helicopter.

Patients who are medically stable and returning to the qathet Region from other hospitals will return by helicopter or ground transport, as per usual processes. If inclement weather prevents air travel in or out of Powell River, VCH will follow BCEHS’ established protocol.

As Pacific Coastal Air will be unable to fly into Powell River during this time, Harbour Air is adding  float plane flights to Vancouver Harbour and YVR South Terminal seven days a week. 

While qGH Lab Services will continue to complete the majority of patient specimen testing onsite, lab samples that require testing in the Lower Mainland will be sent via ground courier during this time. Routine blood products from Canadian blood services will continue to be shipped by ground transport, and urgent requests will be transported on Harbour Air, as needed.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. 

We provide needle exchange services for anyone wanting to dispose of used needles safely and legally. We also provide clean needles, sterile water, alcohol wipes and health information to encourage safer injecting practices. The goal of our needle exchange services is to reduce the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C and other diseases. Needle exchange services also reduce the number of discarded needles in public and the incidence of needle-stick injuries.

How to access

  • Drop in

    Visit us during regular hours for needle disposal and harm reduction supplies, including safer injection, safer smoking and safer sex supplies.

  • Peer mobile services & supports

    We drop off clean supplies for safer use and provide and pick up containers for disposal of used supplies. We also offer naloxone training and kits, referrals to resources and support, and information about safer drug use.

    (604) 414-8395 or (604) 223-8184
    Please call or text 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday
    Not available on statutory holidays.
    Same-day service may not always be available.

Hours of operation

Currently closed
  • Monday:   2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday:   Closed
  • Wednesday:   2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday:   Closed
  • Friday:   1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Saturday:   Closed
  • Sunday:   Closed

Closed on all statutory holidays.

Parking & Transportation

​​Free parking is available.

Getting here by ferry

qathet General Hospital is two ferry rides away from the City of Vancouver.

Take the Langdale ferry from the Horseshoe Bay Terminal.  Ferry schedules can be found at: http://bcferries.com. Drive up the Sunshine Coast along Hwy 101 from Langdale to Earl's Cove.  Take the Saltery Bay ferry from Earl's Cove.

From the Saltery Bay ferry terminal, travel along Hwy 101 for approximately 20 km until you reach a "Welcome to Powell River" sign.  Continue inside the city limits until you reach a street with a right-hand lane and a store/gas station called Pacific Point Market.  At the corner on your right, turn right.  You are now on Joyce Avenue.  Follow Joyce Avenue through four sets of stoplights.  Approximately 1 km past the fourth light, you will approach the hospital on the right.

Getting here by air

Contact Pacific Coastal Airlines by e-mail at www.pacific-coastal.com or by telephone at 1-800-663-2872 for schedules of flights from Vancouver. 

qathet General Hospital

qathet General Hospital (formerly Powell River General Hospital) is a 33-bed facility providing services that include surgery, endoscopy, ICU, obstetrics, in-patient psychiatry, oncology, emergency and diagnostic services.

Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Sites

Harm reduction and needle distribution sites provide harm reduction supplies, including safer injection, safer smoking and safer sex supplies, along with harm reduction education and referrals to health services, addictions services and other social supports.