PEI

Staff shortage causes Souris walk-in clinic closure

A continuing staff shortage has forced the walk-in clinic in the eastern P.E.I. community of Souris to close for the rest of September.

Souris lost its emergency department in 2006

The delayed arrival of a doctor has forced Health PEI to close the walk-in clinic in Souris (CBC)

 

A continuing staff shortage has forced the walk-in clinic in the eastern P.E.I. community of Souris to close for the rest of September.

A third full-time doctor was supposed to start this month, but now isn't expected to arrive until November.

The province said it will reopen the clinic when enough doctors are available. Ambulatory care at the hospital will not affected.

People can check the Health PEI website for scheduled changes.

This isn't the first time the Souris clinic has had to shut its doors. It reduced its hours in August and temporarily closed in October of 2011.

Souris lost its emergency department in 2006. During the 2007 election campaign, the Liberals promised if they were elected they would work to get enough doctors in Souris to reopen the ER.

The closest ER is 45 kilometres away in Montague.