Lachine Hospital to drastically cut ER hours, officials blame ‘critical’ staff shortages – Montreal

The Lachine Hospital, a part of Montreal’s McGill College Well being Centre, might be drastically decreasing the hours of its ER as of Nov. 7.

A spokesperson for the MUHC stated on Monday night that whereas the hospital has been coping with a labour scarcity for a number of years, the scenario has been exacerbated by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

The hospital is now dealing with a “important scarcity of nurses and respiratory therapists,” in response to MUHC Communications Supervisor Gilda Salomone.

Underneath the brand new hours, the emergency room will stay open seven days every week, however solely from 8 a.m. to three p.m. Ambulances might be briefly redirected.

Salomone stated all its providers on the CHSLD Camille-Lefebvre long-term care dwelling might be maintained, not solely when it comes to capability, but additionally assist for sufferers who’re chronically ventilated.

The hospital can even be sustaining elective surgical procedures and its capability for hospitalization in drugs and surgical procedure.

Whereas the contingency plan comes into impact Nov. 7, it isn’t identified how lengthy it would final.

“We want to guarantee our employees and sufferers that this case is momentary and that we’re working intensively in collaboration with the MSSS (Well being Ministry) to appropriate it as quickly as potential,” Salomone stated. “Affected person security is our precedence.”