Grey Bruce Health Services says that staffing shortages are causing major pressures at local hospitals.
In a release, GBHS says a shortage of emergency department physicians is a major concern. The release states that "all six GBHS hospitals have 24/7 emergency departments, and for every 24 hour period, the corporation needs 15 physicians to staff those EDs. The GBHS hospitals have a roster of local physicians who fill the shifts, and are increasingly relying on physicians travelling here from outside the area to keep the EDs open 24/7."
Nursing shortages are also a concern, and some local hospitals in the Huron and Perth region have experienced overnight closures recently due to a lack of nursing staff.
“Heading into summer after a very challenging two years, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cover all of the open shifts, especially when this situation is happening in so many rural hospitals across the province,” says Gary Sims, GBHS President and CEO. "Rural GBHS hospitals typically see a very small number of patients between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Regardless of how few people come to the emergency department in the middle of the night, no one wants to close,” adds Sims. “Our nurses and doctors are doing a tremendous job, and temporary service reductions are something we would only do as a last resort. Right now, we are putting contingency plans in place in case a last minute shift cannot be filled.”
