Clinton Public Hospital Emergency Department Asks Patients to Register by 6 p.m.
September 14, 2021
The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) – Clinton Public Hospital Emergency Department continues to experience nursing staff shortages and to operate with reduced hours. Supporting the need to ensure the department can close daily at 8 p.m., a change in last patient registration time is required.
Effective Thursday, September 16, 2021, the Emergency Department will accept patients registering for an assessment between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day. After 6 p.m., patients seeking emergency services can access one of the other area hospitals providing 24-hour Emergency Department coverage which include:
- Seaforth: HPHA – Seaforth Community Hospital
- Goderich: Alexandra Marine & General Hospital
- Exeter: South Huron Hospital
- Wingham: LWHA – Wingham & District Hospital.
“While the Emergency Department will continue to operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, due to the amount of time it may take for a patient to be assessed and treated, we will only be registering patients until 6 p.m.,” says Andrew Williams, President & CEO. “We must operate within the reduced hours ensuring the department closes at 8 p.m. in order to reduce regularly occurring after-hours work, improve the quality of life of our staff and support recruitment and retention efforts.”
Nursing shortages are widespread across Ontario, including the Huron Perth region, and resulted in the Emergency Department being closed for one day in August. HPHA is committed to providing Clinton Public Hospital Emergency Department access when safe to do so.
“When we do not have staff to safely provide quality patient care, a closure, like the one that occurred on August 1st could happen again,” adds Williams.
Remember if you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.