It looks like Saugeen Memorial Hospital’s ER department will remain a 24/7 operation until at least the end of September.
The President and CEO of Grey Bruce Health Services Maureen Solecki told a public forum on health issues in Southampton on Wednesday — that Health Force Ontario is extending its participation in the program to help cover those shifts in the hospital’s ER.
The current agreement was set to end next week which would have meant the possibility of closing down the Saugeen Memorial ER during the overnight hours.
Solecki says that now shouldn’t happen through the summer months.
She says she can’t guarantee it won’t happen because Health Force Ontario may come up short with participating physicians as well.
However Solecki says the shifting schedule is filling in nicely and they should be go to go until the end of September.
It was last August when Health Force Ontario stepped in to guarantee emergency service for 30-days at the hospital, and then extended their program for another six months after that.
Solecki says this latest extension comes knowing that Bruce Power has stepped up its efforts to help recruit doctors for the Saugeen Shores/Kincardine area.
About 40 people were on hand yesterday at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre to take in the public forum on health issues, when Solecki made her announcement.