\u201cThe nursing shortage has become an urgent issue in Ontario and across the country\u2019s healthcare system,\u201d stated Marc LeBoutillier, chief executive officer for Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) in a November 2 press release. \u201cOur unique geographical location and the language needs of HGH patients make the staffing situation more challenging. As chief executive officer I made the difficult decision in order to manage the risks to patients and for the well-being of the clinical and medical staff.\u201d <\/p>\n
Starting November 1 two departments at HGH will operate at 50-per-cent capacity. Those departments are Perioptive Services, which deals with the hospital\u2019s operating rooms, and the Family Birthing Centre. <\/p>\n
HGH administration, in consultation with several healthcare experts, did a detailed analysis of the nursing staff situation at the hospital to develop a temporary management strategy. The HGH board approved the strategy at its October 27 meeting. <\/p>\n
The goal is to maintain the hospital\u2019s other in-patient care and out-patient services at current planned levels. Surgeries and other procedures related to the operating room department will be postponed as necessary. The reduction in activities for the Family Birthing Centre will be managed through \u201ca clear set of criteria\u201d that will consider the healthcare needs of patients. HGH will notify all patients who may be affected by the service reduction plan. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis decision was carefully weighed and taken to ensure the safety of patients and staff,\u201d stated Dr. Julie Maranda, HGH chief of staff. \u201cOur teams of clinical staff and physicians are doing their best to reduce the impacts on expecting mothers, patients awaiting treatment and their families. We are doing our utmost to balance urgent and elective patient care for our community.\u201d <\/p>\n
HGH administration and staff do urge anyone who needs urgent care to go to the emergency department. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like to thank our community for their support,\u201d stated LeBoutillier, \u201cand all healthcare workers for their continued hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic and during these exceptional times.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ontario\u2019s nursing shortage has now affected operations at Hawkesbury\u2019s own regional hospital. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":9059,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sante"],"acf":[],"featured_media_global":[],"yoast_head":"\n