Brampton urgent care centre closes early amid staffing 'challenges' seen province-wide
An urgent care centre in Brampton is the latest emergency centre in Ontario forced to cut hours due to widespread staffing challenges.
Peel Memorial Hospital will close their centre at 5 p.m Sunday, rather than their usual closing time at 9 p.m.
“Like a number of hospitals, we are experiencing human resource challenges and continue to explore all strategies to help our teams continue to provide exemplary care to our community,” William Osler said in response to inquiries about when the centre will reopen.
“As always, our top priority remains the health and safety of our patients, staff, physicians, volunteers and our community. We ask for our community’s understanding during this difficult time.”
The centre will reopen with normal hours Monday. Emergency Departments at both Brampton Civic Hospital and Etobicoke General Hospital remain open.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Emergency rooms and urgent care centres across the province have seen slashed hours, consolidated staff and forced closures this month, including at hospitals in Clinton, Kingston and Perth, Ont.
Labour shortages have been fuelled by workers leaving hospital roles or the profession altogether after more than two grueling years on the frontlines of the pandemic, say organizations representing nurses, physicians and public hospitals in the province.
"The staffing shortage is (because of) the burnout and people leaving," Ontario Nurses’ Association President Cathryn Hoy said in an interview last week.
"But why they're burning out is because they come in for an eight or 12-hour shift and they're staying 16 hours. Sometimes they’re staying 24 hours."
Hoy said she has heard from nurses who've reported emergency rooms temporarily staffed with a single nurse to cover 30 patients, some hospitals with dozens of unfilled ER positions and patients cared for in hallways.
"A nurse can't be everywhere," she said.
The Ontario Ministry of Health has said the province is working to bolster workforce capacity, by offering lump sum retention bonuses and providing funds to recruit more nurses to target areas across the province.
With files from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Second Cup closes Montreal franchise over hateful incident
Second Cup Café has closed one of its franchise locations in Montreal following allegations of hateful remarks and gestures made by the franchisee in a video that was widely circulated online during a pro-Palestinian protest on Thursday.
‘It’s pretty emotional:’ N.B. family escape fire, plan to rebuild home
A family in Riverview, N.B., is making plans for Christmas and the future after escaping a fire in their home on November, 14.
'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian
One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger.
Scurvy resurgence highlights issues of food insecurity in Canada's rural and remote areas
A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada.
A man called 911 for help during a home invasion. Las Vegas police fatally shot him
A Las Vegas man called for police help during a home invasion before an officer fatally shot him, according to authorities and 911 calls.
These royal residences are opening their doors this Christmas
Not so long ago, if you wanted to spend Christmas with the royal family, the only way to get close was to press your nose up to the TV screen during the monarch’s Christmas speech.
Cat caught in hunting snare rescued by BC SPCA
Donations are ramping up for a BC SPCA cat with a mangled paw after being caught in a hunting snare, one of a rising number of pets to fall prey to the hunting device.
Jannik Sinner leads Italy past the Netherlands for its second consecutive Davis Cup
Jannik Sinner clinched Italy’s second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season by beating Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor.
Lotto Max jackpot hits $80M for second time ever
The Lotto Max jackpot has climbed to $80 million for just the second time in Canadian lottery history.