High patient volume recently and staffing shortages have prompted the decision, a notice published Friday said.
The notice, posted Friday, attributes the temporary shutdown to high volumes in the emergency department and to a nursing staff shortage.Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Ottawa SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc.
The statement also quoted Frédéric Beauchemin, the hospital’s chief executive officer, as saying the emergency department had been kept open for the past year “ because of the commitment and dedication of our nursing, medical and management teams. 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.”Article content
Board chairman Guy Yelle said the hospital had selected solutions having the least impact on patients and their families. “ We have already reduced surgeries and endoscopies to ensure services during the Holiday Season. 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.