Hawkesbury hospital closes emergency room until the new year
Posted Dec 30, 2022 11:04:00 PM.
Staffing shortages are forcing the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) to close their emergency department Dec. 30 until January 3, 2023.
The closure begins Friday, Dec 30 at 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. on Jan. 3.
In a statement posted to their website, the HGH said a months long lack of health human resources is being compounded by a surge in respiratory illnesses.
The hospital decided to close its emergency department as one way “to provide quality patient care with an appropriate nursing staffing level.” Surgeries and endoscopies had already been reduced over the holidays.
HGH board chairman Guy Yelle said in the statement that service reductions were chosen to have the least impact on families.
“The closure of the Emergency Department allows for a small group of nursing staff to provide patient care and replace the employees that are unable to come to work,” stated Yelle.
Frédéric Beauchemin, HGH's recently appointed chief executive officer, said the hospital has been able to keep the emergency department open over the last year because of the commitment of staff.
“Unfortunately, this situation is not sustainable in the coming days given the challenges brought by the respiratory illnesses that continue to impact our community including our staff,” stated Beauchemin.
Patients requiring emergency medical care can still call 9-1-1 and be brought to the nearest hospital. The closest hospitals to the HGH are in Lachute, Que. and the Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria.
