MOUNT FOREST – The emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital was closed from Feb. 11 at 8pm until 7am on Feb. 12 due to staffing challenges.
A graphic was shared on social media platforms stating that the “Louise Marshall Hospital Emergency Department will be closed effective immediately for the evening.”
The Advertiser did not receive a press release or any information with notification of the closure, but a reporter saw the image in a Facebook group on Feb. 13.
By Feb. 14, there was no mention of the closure on the Louise Marshall Hospital Facebook Page or the North Wellington Health Care (NWHC) website.
NWHC operates the Mount Forest hospital and typically issues press releases regarding closures.
Louise Marshall Hospital officials said the closure was a last-minute decision and “unfortunately, with such short-notice closures, we do not have the same opportunity to inform the public through our usual channels in a timely manner.”
This is at least the 13th closure of the emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital since last July.
Previous press releases included a list of the closest emergency departments to Louise Marshall Hospital, including:
- Palmerston and District Hospital (20 minutes);
- South Bruce Grey Health Centre in Durham (23 min.);
- Listowel Memorial Hospital (32 min.);
- Hanover and District Hospital (33 min.);
- South Bruce Grey Health Centre in Walkerton (37 min.);
- Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Aboyne (37 min.); and
- Wingham and District Hospital (42 min.).
In the past, NWHC officials have stressed those hospitals “may also be experiencing temporary closures due to staffing shortages, so it is advised that you confirm that they are open before heading there.”
