March 18, 2023 at 4:01 pm
The Wingham and District Hospital Emergency Departments will be closed overnight due to continued staffing shortages.
Urgent care will not be available from 5:00 p.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. Sunday.
In a medical emergency, patients can call 911, as emergency medical services will be rerouted to other hospitals in the area.
The closest hospitals include Listowel, Clinton, Goderich, Palmertston, Seaforth, Kincardine and Walkerton. However, the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance advises that these facilities may also face staffing shortages, so it is best to call before visiting to ensure their emergency rooms remain open.
Non-emergency calls can be directed to Health Connect Ontario by dialing 811. Their call center is available 24/7 for health-related questions.
“This is a temporary measure and our staff, board, physicians and leadership regret that we had to take this step,” a statement from the hospital alliance said. “We thank our staff and doctors for their support, and thank the community for their patience and understanding during this time.”
In recent weeks, the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance has been taking steps to address staff shortages.