Bluewater Health hospital in Sarnia.  (Photo by BWH)Bluewater Health hospital in Sarnia. (Photo by BWH)
Sarnia

General surgery services at BWH to be temporarily paused

For the third time in four months, general surgery services at Bluewater Health (BWH) will be temporarily closed.

The hospital said there will be a temporary gap in general surgery coverage because of general surgeon staffing shortages.

Services will be reduced at Bluewater Health from Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9.

During that time, patients requiring acute and urgent general surgery interventions such as for appendicitis, may be transferred to another regional hospital.

All other hospital services will operate as normal including all pre-scheduled surgeries.

Bluewater Health said the hospital has recruited more general surgeons who will begin working at the hospital this summer.

"With their arrival, the hospital does not anticipate any further gaps in general surgery coverage," read a news release from BWH. "We thank the community for their patience and understanding."

During the latest temporary closure, residents are encouraged to continue utilizing Bluewater Health emergency departments for all acute medical needs.

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