MUHC to cut ambulance services, walk-ins in partial closure of ER at Lachine Hospital
Ambulances will soon be redirected away from the Lachine Hospital emergency rooms as staff shortages force management to reduce services.
As of Nov. 7, the hospital will no longer accept patients arriving by ambulance, except under specific situations involving heart attacks and respiratory emergencies.
What’s more, the hospital in Montreal’s west end will only accept walk-in patients between 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Henryk Usakowski lost both of his parents at the Lachine Hospital, where he spent much of his time. Like many locals, he was disappointed to hear about the changes.
"It was such a vital part of our lives. I spent six months here, every day, three times a day… and now they're closing it down just like that," he said.
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), which runs the hospital, announced the changes on Friday amid a serious lack of hospital workers, especially among nurses and respiratory staff.
The hospital receives about 40 patients per day, most of whome arrive between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
To maintain regular services, the hospital should have about 52 nurses on staff. At the moment, there are 29.
The shortages are more severe among respiratory therapists. There are just nine working to provide care to the entire hospital, out of the 27 required.
The hospital says medical and surgical beds remain available, and outpatient clinics and labs will still operate.
Regular services at CHSLD Camille-Lefebvre will continue.
In a letter to express her outrage at service cuts at the hospital, Lachine borough Mayor Maja Vodanovic urged Health and Social Services Minister Christian Dubé to intervene.
"Lachine Hospital is the only francophone hospital in the west of Montreal. It is an aging population in a vulnerable situation," she wrote in her letter on Wednesday.
"We are fully aware of the extremely difficult situation for our health care workers and we fully support them."
The MUHC says the closure is temporary, as it's trying to recruit more staff.
"I expect it to be weeks and not many, many months. I would expect it to revert to normal at the latest at the beginning of the year, January," said MUHC president, Dr. Pierre Gfeller.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Poilievre-led government 'would never' use notwithstanding clause on abortion, his office says
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street