Pasqua to close ER overnight for at least 3 months

(File photo)

The emergency room at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina will be closed overnight for at least three months starting next Thursday because of a doctor shortage.

The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region says ER patients will not be admitted at the Pasqua from 7:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.

Those in need of emergency medical treatment are being told to go to the Regina General Hospital.

“This reduction in services has become necessary in order to ensure that we can continue to provide safe, quality care to our patients,” said David McCutcheon, the health region’s vice-president of physician and integrated health services.

“We regret the inconvenience to patients, and are making every effort possible to limit the duration of this service disruption.”

Regina has been facing a shortage of ER physicians since mid-October. Despite recruitment efforts, the health region says staffing levels at both of Regina’s emergency departments are still about one-third below what is needed. ER doctors have been working extra shifts to try to make up for the shortfall.

McCutcheon says the health region is working with Saskatchewan’s health ministry and ER staff to find short- and long-term solutions to the problem.

In addition, a newly formed task force is looking at ways to remove barriers to ER physician recruitment and retention.