The Holiday Season can create a few staffing challenges for hospitals.
CEO for the Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance Andrew Williams says one of their first concerns is that any staff who have holiday time coming get to use them so they can spend time with their families over the holidays.
Williams explains they try to scale down any elective services they can over the holiday period but he adds this year they're also part of a LIHN-wide team that will try to co-ordinate the flow of services throughout the region.
Williams says over the holidays, hospital emergency wards see everyone who can't get primary care, which can create backups.
This year, for about ten days over the holidays, the hospital is co-ordinating a daily on-line meeting with a representative from every hospital in the LNIN and the community care sector to review the status, as well as any potential problems with flow.
Williams adds he believes the plan will allow them to achieve the balance between providing service where it's needed while allowing staff time to enjoy the holidays.
