Kings County hospital ER closed Saturday due to lack of staffing

Health P.E.I. says the emergency department at Kings County Memorial Hospital will be closed Saturday due to a lack of staffing.

In a news release, the health authority said the ER in the Montague hospital will reopen for its regular hours on Monday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"Health P.E.I. is working hard to support the emergency department at KCMH to avoid future closures, the release said, citing efforts to recruit emergency physicians and other health professionals.

As well, it said, "we have increased the complement of full-time emergency physicians and increased rates of pay for locum physicians. Health P.E.I. has also applied incentives to support staffing at our rural hospitals."

Anyone with emergency medical needs should call 911 or seek emergency services when:    

• Experiencing unusual shortness of breath;
• Experiencing discomfort or tightness in the chest;
• Experiencing abdominal pain;
• Experiencing prolonged and persistent headache or dizziness;
• An injury may require stitches or involve a broken bone;
• A child has prolonged diarrhea or vomiting; or
• A baby under six months of age has a fever of 38 C or higher.

Anyone with health concerns or who needs health information should call 811 to speak to an experienced registered nurse for advice on the best course of action.

Patients with non-urgent concerns are advised to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider where possible, including seeking care from a pharmacist for common ailments under the Pharmacy Plus program.