Ottawa's Montfort Hospital temporarily closing emergency department overnights this weekend
The emergency department at the Montfort Hospital will be closed overnights this weekend as the hospital deals with an "unprecedented shortage" of nurses.
The hospital in Ottawa's east end says it has made the "difficult decision" to "temporarily partially close" its emergency department on Saturday and Sunday between 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.
The temporary closure of the emergency department will remain in effect until Monday at 7:30 a.m.
"Ontario is experiencing a sustained pressure on emergency department staffing levels due to COVID-related absences, vacations, staff fatigue and burnout," the Montfort Hospital said in a statement Friday afternoon.
"Staffing pressures, including in the ED, are being felt by hospitals across the country. These pressures were strongly felt over the course of the past few weeks and due to the unprecedented shortage of nurses at Montfort currently, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily partially close our Emergency Department."
The Montfort Hospital says the rest of the hospital will be "business as usual." The Montfort Hospital said early Friday evening the ER will remain open for ambulances transporting high acuity patients only.
The Montfort Hospital is the latest hospital in eastern Ontario to temporarily close its emergency department due to a staffing shortage. The emergency room at the hospital in Perth, Ont. was closed for three weeks in July, while the Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria closed its emergency department overnights for two weeks before partial resuming 24-hour service this week.
"The decision to close the Emergency, even for a few hours, is not easy to make," the Montfort Hospital said. "But we have to do it, to ensure our team is able to offer excellent, safe and compassionate care when the Emergency reopens."
The emergency departments at the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, the Ottawa Hospital General Campus and the Queensway-Carleton Hospital remain open this weekend.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestion
Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal that the United States “foolishly” ceded to its Central American ally, contending that shippers are charged “ridiculous” fees to pass through the vital transportation channel linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Wrongfully convicted N.B. man has mixed feelings since exoneration
Robert Mailman, 76, was exonerated on Jan. 4 of a 1983 murder for which he and his friend Walter Gillespie served lengthy prison terms.
opinion Christmas movies for people who don't like Christmas movies
The holidays can bring up a whole gamut of emotions, not just love and goodwill. So CTV film critic Richard Crouse offers up a list of Christmas movies for people who might not enjoy traditional Christmas movies.
Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no
A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General.
New York City police investigate death of woman found on fire in subway car
New York City Police on Sunday were seeking a man they believe is connected to the early morning death of a woman who was sleeping on a stationary subway train before she was intentionally lit on fire.
More than 7,000 Jeep SUVs recalled in Canada over camera display concern
A software issue potentially affecting the rearview camera display in select Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee models has prompted a recall of more than 7,000 vehicles.
'I'm still thinking pinch me': lost puppy reunited with family after five years
After almost five years of searching and never giving up hope, the Tuffin family received the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for: being reunited with their long-lost puppy.
10 hospitalized after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in Ottawa's east end
The Ottawa Police Service says ten people were taken to hospital, with one of them in life-threatening condition, after being exposed to suspected carbon monoxide in the neighbourhood of Vanier on Sunday morning.
Pickup truck driver killed by police after driving through Texas mall and injuring 5
A pickup truck driver fleeing police careened through the doors of a JCPenney store in Texas and continued through a busy mall, injuring five people before he was fatally shot by officers, authorities said.