Niagara emergency departments face 'serious' staffing shortages

Niagara Health is warning its emergency departments face severe staffing shortages which are impeding the ability to keep facilities open across the region, a news release states.

Emergency-trained physicians will be asked to work in EDs to ensure care can be provided for those with life-threatening conditions. However staffing challenges are so serious that the ED physician group has warned about the ability to properly staff  EDs with emergency-trained physicians and nurses. From June to August alone, EDs are short 274 physician shifts, the release said.

In an attempt to alleviate this issue, Niagara Health is reducing the daily hours of operation for Urgent Care Centres at Fort Erie and Port Colborne sites. Effective July 5 the UCCs will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, according to the news release.

"We see an average of one patient every three hours at night at our UCCs and most patients, approximately 75 per cent, currently arrive between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Given these statistics, working with our ED physician team, we have found that the absolute least impactful way to begin tackling this is to reduce late night and early morning coverage in the Fort Erie and Port Colborne UCCs," the release said.

"Even with this reduction in hours, we may not be able to cover all of our shifts going into the summer months – meaning our nurses and doctors will still be stretched thin. And our priority must be emergency and acute care. This is not our preference, but simply put, today this change will allow us to keep our EDs in Welland, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines operational."

Other healthcare options are available in the community. Use Emergency Departments for emergencies only. Be prepared for long waits if your visit is not urgent, the release warned.

For all other health concerns: 

• Contact your primary care provider or call Health811, to chat with a registered nurse 24/7 via phone or web chat. 
• Make a virtual appointment for urgent care to speak with a Niagara Health clinician Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by visiting UrgentCareOntario.ca
• Call 211 or visit 211Ontario.ca for help finding healthcare and social services. You can call, text, chat or email a trained information specialist, 24/7, a get service in 150 languages.
• Connex Ontario · Call 1-866-531-2600 or visit ConnexOntario.ca to get help finding mental health, addictions and problem gambling supports. You can call, text, chat or email, 24/7.

Pharmacies in Ontario are now authorized to prescribe medications for minor ailments, 
including conjunctivitis, sprains and strains, and urinary tract infections.

Pharmacies with extended hours: 

• Shoppers Drug Mart in Fort Erie is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
• Shoppers Drug Mart in Port Colborne is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
• The Walmart pharmacy is open from 9am to 9pm., Monday to Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
• The Sobeys pharmacy in Port Colborne is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.