Almonte second area hospital to close emergency department

ALMONTE – For the second time this long weekend, a Lanark County hospital serving West Carleton has been forced to close its emergency room due a staff shortage.

“The emergency department at Almonte General Hospital (AGH) will close at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5,” Mississippi River Health Alliance communications lead Jane Adams released in a statement today (Sept. 5). “It will re-open at 7 a.m. tomorrow (Sept. 6). Patients will not be accepted after 4:30 p.m. to ensure the department can close at 7 p.m. This temporary closure is due to a nursing staff shortage due to illness.”

The rest of the hospital is still open and caring for patients.

“Patient and staff safety is our main priority,” AGH President Mary Wilson Trider said. “Our dedicated teams at both AGH and Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) continue to work to ensure we have the necessary staff to support our community with their health care needs. We are closely supported by our team at the Lanark County Paramedic Service.”

Overnight Sept. 3, the CPDMH closed its emergency department, but it re-opened yesterday (Sept. 4).

Anyone requiring immediate medical attention should call 911. 

“Paramedics will take you to the nearest emergency department for care,” Adams said.

Patients can also speak with a Registered Nurse at Telehealth Ontario by calling toll-free 1-866-797-0000 or TTY 1-866-797-0007. This service is available 24 hours a day, seen days a week.

The closest Emergency Departments are:

• Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital- www.cpdmh.ca  
• Arnprior Regional Health – www.arnpriorregionalhealth.ca
• Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital – www.psfdh.on.ca
• Queensway Carleton Hospital – www.qch.on.ca