It’s going to be a while before the Chesley Hospital Emergency Department is back to a 24-hour operation.
The Chesley ER is open from 8am to 8pm and closed from 8pm to 8am — a situation they were forced into in 2019 because of lack of personnel.
The President & CEO of South Bruce Grey Health Centre Michael Barrett says the department will not revert to a 24-hour operation until they have enough nurses to cover the night shifting.
Barrett says they need between 1-2 registered nurses and between 1-2 registered practical nurses before opening the doors at night.
The numbers may seem small, but he tells his board of directors at their regular meeting on February 3rd, finding the staff is tough.
He mentioned that in Toronto, the hospitals there, are looking for some 900 nurses and the competition is fierce for nurses across the province.
Barrett says another public meeting on the Chesley issue is being planned for April or May this year.
He says the province is aware of Chesley’s predicament and has indicated they would like to see the facility’s ER operate on a 24/7 basis as well.
