2024 worst year for Ontario ER closures, CBC analysis finds – CBC
1 out of every 5 hospitals with an ER or urgent care centre had unplanned shutdowns
Dec 02, 2024
Timing was everything for Bruce Pieroway when he suffered a heart attack in late October in the rural farming community of Chesley, Ont., about two hours north of Kitchener.
It happened early on a Monday afternoon when the town’s only emergency room was still open.
“The worst thing about the hospital here is you don’t know whether it’s open or closed,” said Pieroway, referring to Chesley’s ER, which has faced chronic closures since 2022 and now only operates between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
For Pieroway, who is 70, the next closest emergency department is a 25-minute drive away.
But fortunately, at 2 p.m. that October day, the Chesley ER was open and hospital staff were able to get him stabilized.
