South Bruce Grey Health Centre is extending reduced hours at the Chesley hospital emergency room.
Chief Nursing Officer Lynn Bos said they are continuing to experience a shortage of nursing staff that are experienced and qualified to provide 24/7 Emergency Department coverage.
“At this time, two part-time registered nurse [RN] vacancies remain at the Chesley site, which are currently posted externally,” explained Bos. “We have had some success recruiting new nurses in the last couple of months, however, these nurses are new graduates, or have limited ED experience.”
In order to safely operate the Emergency Department, the reduced hours of operation that were implemented in September 2019 will be extended beyond February 1, 2020.
The Emergency Department will continue to operate between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days per week, until further notice.
The situation that SBGHC is facing is not unique. The Clinton site of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) implemented reduced operating hours for its Emergency Department in December 2019 due to a nursing staff shortage. Recruitment and retention of RNs and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) are very challenging in rural communities.
Nurses are required to develop a high degree of competency in a number of clinical domains and specialties, and new graduates can often be unprepared to work in a rural setting without significant orientation and mentorship.
