Article content
An “unforeseen” staffing shortage led to a temporary overnight closure of the Almonte General Hospital emergency department on Saturday.
A statement from the Mississippi River Health Alliance said the Almonte emergency department would close at 7 p.m. and was expected to reopen at 7 a.m. on Sunday.
Article content
The rest of the hospital was to remain open and would still care for patients, the statement added.
Article content
“These decisions are not made without exhausting all possible options,” Brad Harrington, the MRHA’s president and CEO, said in the release “But, like many rural hospitals in Ontario and across the country, we struggle with staffing challenges. Our staff are incredibly hardworking and dedicated to providing the best possible care to our community, and we thank them for all that they do.”
Anyone from the Almonte area requiring immediate medical attention was advised to call 9-1-1. Paramedics were to take those patients to the nearest available emergency department for care: Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital; Arnprior Regional Health; Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital; and Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa.
Patients can also speak with a Registered Nurse at Telehealth Ontario by calling toll-free 1-866-797-0000 or TTY 1-866-797-0007. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed.
Recommended from Editorial
Share this article in your social network