Almonte hospital emergency department to close overnight, citing shortage of nursing staff

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The emergency department at Almonte General Hospital will be closed from 7 p.m. Thursday until 7 a.m. Friday.

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The hospital said the closure was due to a shortage of nursing staff.

The hospital and its sister hospital in Carleton Place have been forced to close emergency departments overnight numerous times in recent months because of chronic staff shortages.

The Almonte hospital remains open, but those requiring emergency care are asked to call 911 or to visit a nearby emergency department at Carleton Place, Arnprior, Perth or Queensway Carleton in Ottawa.

Rural emergency department closures because of nursing shortages have been common across Ontario for the past year, something largely unheard of before that.

Some fear there will be more such closures this summer as more nurses are on holidays and it becomes more difficult to find replacements.