The reductions coming over the summer in Fort Erie and Port Colborne as Niagara Health grapples with continued doctor shortages
Niagara Health calls it a last resort, reducing service even further this summer at Fort Erie and Port Colborne Urgent Care Centres.
The organization says despite exhaustive efforts to find more doctors, 111 positions remain unfilled, more than half at Marotta Family hospital emergency room in St. Catharines, as Niagara Health works to prioritize staffing levels at St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland hospitals.
Starting in July, lasting to early September, Fort Erie will close Fridays, Port Colborne on Saturdays, and both will close Canada Day, Labour Day weekend, and Fort Erie to close Civic Holiday weekend.
Chief of Staff Dr. Kevin Chan says these decisions are not made lightly, this being the minimum level of closure to maintain emergency service across the region.
Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch says this is a direct consequence of the provincial government's neglect, and called for more medical schools and training and greater doctor recruitment efforts.
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