‘Cautiously optimistic’ no further hospital closures this summer, northern doctor says – CBC

North Shore Health Network was facing site closures before funding announcement from Health Ministry

Jun 05, 2023

Ontario has renewed funding that will help alleviate staffing pressures at rural and remote hospitals, but it’s a short-term solution that’s not addressing more critical shortfalls in the system, a doctor in northern Ontario says.

Tim Vine, North Shore Health Network (NSHN) president and chief executive officer, said the extension of the province’s COVID-19 Temporary Summer Locum Program will continue until September, following an announcement from the Ministry of Health Thursday.

The ministry made the announcement just hours after the site in Blind River said it would be directing people to emergency rooms in the neighbouring communities of Thessalon and Elliot Lake due to staff shortages.

That follows closures of the Thessalon site — four times in the past two weeks — due to shortages.

But since the government announcement, Vine said there has been a “tremendous uptake” filling shifts throughout the summer.

‘Cautiously optimistic’ no further hospital closures this summer, northern doctor says – CBC

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