Royal Inland Hospital.

(ASHLEY LEGASSIC - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

Interior Health and B.C. Coroners Service are investigating an unexpected death at Royal Inland Hospital early Wednesday morning.

As first reported by Radio NL, a patient in a waiting room died after waiting six hours in a busy Emergency Room.

When asked whether the low staffing levels played a role in the patient's death, Interior Health responded by saying it reviews all unexpected deaths but could not speak directly to this event.

"We know these are very difficult situations for all those who are impacted and our thoughts are with those impacted. Our priority at Royal Inland Hospital is to ensure emergency department patients are triaged and seen in a timely fashion, and that they receive care based on the urgency of their needs,” an Interior Health spokesperson said in an emailed statement to iNFOnews.ca.

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B.C. Coroners Service spokesperson Ryan Panton confirmed to iNFOnews.ca they were notified of the death at Royal Inland Hospital in the early morning hours of Sept. 8.

"As we’re early in the process of trying to determine all of the facts, we’re unable to provide any additional information at this time," Panton said in an emailed statement to iNFOnews.ca

The coroners service would not release anymore details about the death due to privacy concerns and the Coroners Act.

Staff at the hospital have been placed under increased pressure at Royal Inland Hospital with COVID-19 cases surging in the region and nursing staff leaving their positions, particularly in the ER. A nurse told iNFOnews.ca on Aug. 28 that around 20 nursing staff left the ER in recent weeks, placing added pressure on remaining hospital staff.

READ MORE: Another 814 new COVID cases in B.C. with 272 in Interior Health

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