Lachine Hospital to Slash ER Hours, Officials Blame “Critical” Staff Shortage – Montreal | The Canadian News

Lachine Hospital, part of Montreal’s McGill University Health Center, will dramatically reduce its emergency room hours starting November 7.

A MUHC spokesperson said Monday night that while the hospital has been dealing with a labor shortage for several years, the situation has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The hospital now faces a “critical shortage of nurses and respiratory therapists,” according to MUHC Communications Manager Gilda Salomone.

Under the new hours, the emergency room will remain open seven days a week, but only from 8 am to 3 pm Ambulances will be temporarily redirected.

Salomone said that all of its services at the CHSLD Camille-Lefebvre long-term care home will continue, not only in terms of capacity, but also in supporting chronically ventilated patients.

The hospital will also maintain elective surgeries and its inpatient capacity in medicine and surgery.

While the contingency plan goes into effect on November 7, it is not known how long it will last.

“We want to assure our staff and patients that this situation is temporary and that we are working intensively in collaboration with the MSSS (Ministry of Health) to correct it as soon as possible,” said Salomone. “Patient safety is our priority.”