The reduced hours at Clinton hospital have been displayed on this sign for several years now | Photo by: B. Shakyaver
Continuing emergency department closures in the area have been a common theme as of late, with closures as recent as just last week in Seaforth, and continued reduction in services at Clinton’s ED – but why is this continuing to happen, and what needs to change?
Andrew Williams, President & CEO of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA), says that the biggest factor is the significant gap between the demand for nurses and the available supply. Small workforces are unable to absorb unforeseen absenteeism – resulting in the closures of smaller hospitals when staffing challenges arise.
Williams says that this is more obvious in rural communities than in urban ones with larger staff, as these absences result in closures as opposed to reduced capacity.
With continuing closures rolling through local hospitals, Williams emphasized the vast number of people receiving excellent healthcare daily in and out of emergency rooms, and he discussed initiatives such as the Community Commitment Program for nurses, provincial incentives, and recruitment strategies to try to work toward a long term solution.
Williams highlighted the complexity of the issues and the need for either more staff or a structural change in the healthcare system – with many sites across the province are struggling.
Aligning education programs with community needs and supporting healthcare professionals were suggested as key strategies.
Addressing community frustrations, Williams encouraged engagement, creative ideas, and constructive dialogue. He acknowledged the challenges of recruiting and maintaining staff, emphasizing the importance of a positive tone in community interactions – not taking out your healthcare frustrations on the professionals that are showing up and taking care of the community daily. Williams welcomed community involvement and suggested raising concerns with the organization or escalating them to the provincial level.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
