The Wingham and District Hospital is temporarily closing its emergency department for three days due to staffing shortages.
The closure has begun as of Thursday, August 3, at 6:30 a.m.
The ER will reopen Sunday at 7 p.m.
"We understand how disappointing this extended closure is to our community as well as our staff and physicians," read a statement from the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance. "Our staffing situation is expected to improve through August which will reduce our risk of closure. However, the health human resources issues remain challenging."
Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. Ambulance bypass will be in place to take patients to the nearest available ER.
The closest hospitals to Wingham include Listowel, Goderich, Palmerston, Seaforth, Kincardine, Walkerton and Clinton (operating on reduced hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
