in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
February 14, 2024
South Bruce Grey Health Centre (SBGHC) is committed to providing quality and reliable health care to our patients and community. Due to nursing shortages, SBGHC will be closing the Durham emergency department (ED) overnight for an extended period.
The emergency department at the Durham hospital will be closed overnight, every night, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 AM, and will be open and operational from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM seven days per week. This reduction in service will start on Sunday, March 10, 2024, and will extend for an indefinite period of time.
Hospitals across Canada and Ontario are facing staffing challenges and South Bruce Grey Health Centre is no exception. There are a significant number of unfilled nursing shifts for the Durham hospital that begins on March 10. We are experiencing an ongoing shortage of nurses and do not have the necessary staff to keep the Durham hospital emergency department open at night for the foreseeable future. This difficult decision has been made for the safety of our patients and staff.
“We know that short-term service reductions are not sustainable, and we need long-term solutions as we continue to face significant staffing challenges,” said Nancy Shaw, SBGHC President and CEO. “Our Board and Senior Leadership Team remain focused on stabilizing all of our sites for the future and providing a high-quality and safe system of care our communities can have confidence in. As a result of the cycle of temporary service reductions, we are engaging with our government partners on both shorter-term supports and longer-term options. We are committed to engaging with our staff, physicians, communities, and government partners as our work continues.”
Beginning March 10, patients requiring emergency care during the hours of 5:00 PM to 7:00 AM should present to one of the neighbouring 24/7 EDs, or call 911 to be taken to the nearest 24/7 ED.
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