MOUNT FOREST – For the ninth time in the last eight months, the emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital is closing for a portion of this weekend due to a staffing shortage.
The department will close on March 15 (Friday) at 7pm and reopen on March 16 (Saturday) at 7am, states a three-sentence press release from North Wellington Health Care (NWHC), which operates hospitals in Mount Forest and Palmerston.
“Anyone requiring immediate medical attention should call 9-1-1,” states the March 15 release.
“Paramedics will take you to the next nearest emergency department for care.”
The announcement marks at least the ninth time since last July the emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital has closed due to staffing shortages.
Previous closures took place on July 6/7, July 20/21, Aug. 9/10, Sept. 9/10, Sept. 16-18, Sept. 30/Oct. 1, Nov. 17/18/19 and Dec. 30/31.
During previous closures, NWHC advised residents with non-urgent health care needs to call Health Connect Ontario at 811, but the March 15 release did not include that information.
Also not included this time around is the 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.”
