The Clinton Public Hospital (CPH) is approaching the four year anniversary of a temporary reduction in hours, leaving residents without an emergency department overnight.
This has led to much frustration in the community and confusion as to how it lasted so long.
Originally, the measure was put in place due to lack of staff.
"We were in a position when it first started that we had a lot of temporary maternity leaves," said Lynanne Mason, vice president of partnerships and chief nursing executive at Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA). "Temporary postings are really hard to fill. Then the pandemic got worse and our resources went down even further."
Mason said that while the burden of COVID-19 is not as bad at it once was, there is a mass staffing shortage happening everywhere right now. But, Mason is optimistic as things are improving at CPH.
"We are very focused and targeted on our recruitment team going to local job fairs. We're going to further away schools to try to draw nurses to Clinton and the emergency department to take a position," she said.
Staff has already increased so the facility is able to have two registered nurses at all times.
However, the overnight closure remains. No emergency care is offered from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Jacoby Ott, a Huron County resident, values having a hospital in the community.
"I've gone to the Clinton hospital several times throughout my life," said Ott. "My most significant experience being March 2022. I was in a pretty serious car accident and that's the first hospital I was taken to after being picked up by the ambulance."
Ott said her injuries could have resulted in potential paralyzation or loss of speech. The close drive from where the incident happened was very important to her outcome.
"I remember thinking I was so thankful it happened during a weekday on an afternoon, which to be honest, is a pretty sad thought," she said. "I was so glad it happened within operating hours so I could get somewhere quickly and close by."
Ott said she is so thankful for what the staff do there, and understands the struggles experienced by the healthcare sector in the last few years. But, her hope remains that Clinton Hospital will soon be able to stay open around the clock.
"I think there's so many cases where you need emergency care where that location or distance to wherever you're seeking care is so critical," said Ott.
HPHA will hold a community meeting on Wednesday, November 22 at 7 p.m. at Libro Hall in Clinton, regarding a potential amalgamation. The amalgamation involves all of HPHA's sites, Clinton, Seaforth, St. Mary's, and Stratford. More on that to come.