The emergency department in Wingham will be closed most of Saturday due to staff shortages.
In a release early Friday evening, the Wingham and District Hospital said the emergency room will shut down between 5 a.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. The department will reopen after 7 p.m. on April 15 for its usual 24/7 care.
"Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency," read a statement from the Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance. "Emergency Medical Services will remain available to the community and will be re-routed to surrounding hospitals to ensure local residents continue to have access to the emergency services they need."
Those with non-urgent healthcare concerns should seek advice by calling Health Connect Ontario at 811, available 24 hours for non-emergency health-related questions.
The next closest hospitals are in Listowel, Clinton, Goderich, Palmerston, Seaforth, Kincardine, or Walkerton. Be sure to confirm if those facilities are open before going, as they may also be experiencing staff operational issues.
"This is a temporary measure, and our staff, board, physicians, and leadership regret that we have to take this step," the statement continued. "We are thankful for the support of our staff and physicians and appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during this time."
