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Huron Expositor, 2009-01-28, Page 3rix Ne' vo0-4-04 Seaforth ER to close from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. startin Feb. 7 until needed nurses can be recruited �,= `:"" • sa The Huron Expositor • .ran ary-it-2609 'Pa iP3 at From Page 1 province -wide shortage. "Any hospital administrator in On- tario will tell you they're one nurse away from the same situation," she said, adding that's the reason ER nurses cannot be transferred from other hospitals to fill the vacancy in Seaforth. Dr. . Heather Percival said that while Healthforce Ontario has cre- ated a pool of doctors to fill in across the province when the doctor short- age has threatened to close emer- gency departments, Seaforth's is the first crisis caused by the nursing shortage and a similar pool of nurses doesn't yet exist. "I'm hopeful they'll do the same thing as they did with physicians," she said. Cardinal said part of the difficulty in. recruiting nurses is that nurses are now trained as specialists with specific skill sets. "It all boils down to quality of care. We need a certain level of expertise so we can provide the best care possi- ble, the same are you would receive as any hospital," added Dr. Carolin Shepherd. While agency nurses were used by SCH to fill vacancies over the sum- mer -at the emergency department, Cardinal said there are not enough ER nurses working as agency nurses to solve the problem again in Seaforth. Patients who need emergency medical services when SCH's emergency department is closed will be able to access them at Clinton Public Hospital, South Huron Hospital in Ex- eter, Stratford General Hospital, Wingham and District Hospital or Listowel Memorial Hospital. "911 will know where the nearest hospital is and the ambulance will of people, emer- gency is the hos- pital." "It's a security blanket - you know it's there when your child wakes at 2 a.m. with a fever of 104," said Per- cival. "And, it still will be - you just have to drive a little more or wait a little lon-4 ger." Cardinal stressed that the reduced hours at emergency are not a precursor of a hospital clo- sure. "There is no intention of °los- ing any sites. The Alliance was formed on the basis of four sites and that continues to be our intent. We will continue our recruit- ment," she said. Percival said she's hoping that Seaforth's nurses will not feel guilty about the reduced hours at the emer- gency department because they have worked so hard to try and keep it open. Mary Coyne, clini- cal resources nurse at Seaforth's ER says the nurses are feeling "tru- ly sad" about the night- time closure. "There is a huge sense of responsibility because this is our com- munity hospital and we have tried to keep ev- erything going with the best standards of care. But, you get to a point where you feel the bal- ancing act is tipping the wrong way. We just (A111111111101 'Any hospital administrator in Ontario will tell you they're one nurse away from the same situation,/.. SCH site administrator Mary Cardinal take you to the nearest emergency," said Shepherd. Cardinal said the greatest amount of traffic, at the Seaforth emergency department happens during the day- time hours. Shepherd said 'she understands the community's shock and fear in, response to the news of the night, - time closure of Seaforth's ER. "It's going to be hard on the com- munity and I can understand the emotion very well," she said. Datema agreed saying, "For a lot .,,4,14? can't do it right now but we are 'trying to come out on the other side," she said. Datema said the community can help by spreading the word among family and friends that ER nurses are needed in Seaforth. "If someone knows of a nurse that has been laid off at a London hos- pital, that sort of word of mouth or grassroots contact might be just what we need," he said. Cardinal said she's hoping that all of the media coverage on TV, radio • Seh Community Hospital's emergency department and urban newspapers might end up "We've had a lot of excellent cover - being the advertising Seaforth need- age so that's positive," she said. ed to fill its nursing vacancies. z�. Fbr more about BRIDES, or to reserve your advertising space in this engaging special section, call your advertising consultant today. BRIDES arrives on Wednesday, February 25, 2009. This once -a -year tradition Ls a special feature of The Goderich Signal -Star, The Clinton News -Record, The Seaforth Huron Expositor & The Lakeshore Advance. That's over 12,500 homes in which to sham your prod or service! DEADIINE: Tuesday, Ffebruuay 18, 2009. Book your space early! Call now to be a part of BRIM& AY A y, • .9egforthhwor b r phone: 519-5270240 a.