Because of problems with staffing, some less urgent cases will have to wait longer, the hospital says
The Cornwall Community Hospital’s emergency room staff are getting hit and yelled at more often, so the hospital is asking people to be patient and kind while they wait for care.
In a news release on Monday, the hospital in eastern Ontario said that problems with staffing and capacity are causing some patients to have to wait longer for care, and some have taken it out on staff.
The hospital said, “Unfortunately, staff and doctors have been getting more verbal and physical abuse from angry patients and their families.”
It also reminded the public that cases that are more important will always be dealt with first.
Based on data from the province, the hospital took care of less urgent cases in about five hours in January, which was faster than the provincial goal of four hours. The most important cases took about five and a half hours, which was much less than the goal of eight hours.
The hospital said that anyone who needs health advice can call 811 or chat with a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Last year, Telehealth Ontario was replaced by this provincial program called Health Connect Ontario.
It also said that it is trying to hire more people. In 2022, it hired eight more doctors and 200 other people.