Rural northern Ont. emergency department closes until further notice

UPDATE:

The Blanche River Health (BRH) emergency department at its Englehart site will reopen at 6 p.m. on March 7, the hospital said in a news release Thursday.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Blanche River Health (BRH) has closed the emergency department at its Englehart site until further notice.

Jorge VanSlyke, the president and CEO of BRH, announced the closure Tuesday.

BRH is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the northeastern Ontario communities of Englehart and Kirkland Lake as well as residents in surrounding areas.

The emergency department at BRH’s Kirkland Lake site as well as the emergency room at the Temiskaming Hospital in New Liskeard remain open 24/7, hospital officials said in a news release.

Both the Kirkland Lake site and Temiskaming Hospital are a more than 30-minute drive from the Town of Englehart and only the obstetric care is only available at the New Liskeard centre.

“As always, people are encouraged to call 911 in an emergency, and they will be transported to the best available location for care,” reads the release.

BRH staff also are reminding the public that registered nurses are also available 24 hours a day by phone through 811.

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Jorge VanSlyke, president and CEO of Blanche River Health. (Supplied/Blanche River Health)“Despite the success we have had at keeping the ED (emergency department) open at both Blanche River Health sites by increasing use of contracted services, our region is not immune to the ongoing shortage of clinicians that led to more than 150 Ontario ED closures last year,” said VanSlyke.

“We will continue to work hard to ensure full coverage is sustained over the long term.”