In what has become an all too common occurrence, a local hospital is having to temporarily close its emergency department.
This time, the closure is at the hospital in Durham.
The South Grey Bruce Health Centre (SGBHC) announced on Monday afternoon that its emergency department will be closed nightly from Monday to Wednesday. As is often the case, the closure is related to a staffing shortage.
The SGBHC says the emergency department at the Durham hospital will be closed from Monday at 5 p.m. to Tuesday at 7 a.m. It will close again Tuesday at 5 p.m. before re-opening Wednesday at 7 a.m, and close again Wednesday at 5 p.m. and open at 7 a.m. Thursday.
During the closures, ambulances will take patients to the nearest open emergency department.
"Anyone requiring immediate medical attention should call 911 to be taken to the nearest Emergency Department," the SGBHC said in a statement released Monday. "For non-urgent health care needs, Health Connect Ontario is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions by calling 811."
