Hospital system says staffing shortages are making it harder to keep Emergency Departments open
Some big changes are coming to Niagara Health's Urgent Care Centres (UCC's) in Fort Erie and Port Colborne.
The hospital system says starting Wednesday, July 5th, the UCC's at the two sites will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily.
Niagara Health notes the cut is due to a shortage of physicians, which is making it harder to keep Emergency Departments open.
"Like most health systems in Ontario and Canada, we have experienced significant challenges finding enough health professionals to provide the level of service needed across the region. Our staffing challenges are so serious that our ED physician group has warned us about our ability to properly staff EDs with emergency-trained physicians and nurses. From June to August alone, our EDs are short 274 physician shifts."
During a typical night, the sites see one patient every three hours at the UCC's, and about 75 percent of patients arrive between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Niagara Health says emergency-trained physicians will be asked to work in emergency departments in order to care for people with life-threatening conditions, while other staff will be given opportunities to work in roles across the hospital system.
"UCCs are not EDs, and Niagara Health is one of the few hospitals in Ontario that still operates them. Even with this reduction in hours, we may not be able to cover all of our shifts going into the summer months - meaning our nurses and doctors will still be stretched thin. And our priority must be emergency and acute care. This is not our preference, but simply put, today this change will allow us to keep our EDs in Welland, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines operational."
Residents are asked to use emergency departments for emergencies only, and be prepared for long waits.
Niagara Region Concludes Toronto Meetings
Gates Calling for MRI Wait Time Reduction
OPP Ready to Keep Roads/Water Safe
PM Challenged to Cut Gas Taxes for Summer
Hoverlink Signs Lease Agreement
Tory MP Listening for Housing Solutions
NRP Citizen's Police Academy to Start
Meet Police at NRP Open House