The Clinton Hospital has a shortage of nurses available so they’re undergoing a part-time closure of their emergency room services.
Vice-president of partnerships and chief nursing executive at the Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance Anne Campbell says they used the numbers available to them to determine when a part-time closure would have the least impact on patients.
She explains the guidelines which they have set up beginning December 2nd.
Campbell says they’ve been struggling to recruit experienced nurses in coming to the Clinton hospital and they’ve been hiring recent nursing graduates as they continue to learn the ropes. The HPHA did a temporary-closure before for similar reasons, as Seaforth struggled with recruitment and had limited hours from 2009 to 2011.
Campbell says they’re not laying off any nurses and will be using this time to offer them additional training and experience in other hospitals or areas of care. The overnight closure will last until more nurses are recruited.
Those needing to visit an ER after 8 p.m. can visit Exeter, Seaforth, Goderich or Wingham hospitals after the December 2nd date.
