Municipal leaders in small Ontario communities say urgent action is needed to address a critical Health A shortage of care staff that has prompted the temporary closure of many hospital emergency rooms.
hospital emergency room PerthOnt., has been closed since July 2 because it is a . struggles with COVID-19 outbreak among employees which has been exacerbated by the severe shortage of workers.
In a message posted on its website, the hospital said the ER would remain closed until further notice and that patients would be referred to its partner hospital in Smith Falls, about 20 kilometers east.
Perth Mayor John Fenick likened the health care system to a “slowly opening up” quilt and called on the province to act.
Six hospitals in the counties of Huron, Perth and Bruce have also reported temporary ER closures this past weekend and this week.
Huron County Warden, Glenn McNeill, says it is unlikely that all local hospitals will be able to operate 24-hour emergency rooms in the future.
A spokesman for Ontario’s Ministry of Health has said the province is working to increase workforce capacity, including one-time retention bonuses and funding to recruit nurses in target areas throughout the province.
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