MPP Jeff Burch and Mayor Frank Campion say they have received complaints from hospital staff about reduced emergency services at Welland site
A pair of local politicians have written a letter to Niagara Health, expressing concerns about service disruptions at the Welland hospital.
Mayor Frank Campion and Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch say they have received complaints from hospital staff about bed closures and a reduction of emergency services.
The letter says effective February 27th, there will no longer be after hours surgeries at the Welland hospital.
Meanwhile, Niagara Health has responded, saying Welland patients who need emergency surgery after hours will be transferred to the Niagara Falls or the St. Catharines site.
The hospital system is also reporting a staffing shortage, particularly with anesthesiologists.
The letter and Niagara Health's response can be found below.
Recently we learned that surgical services at the Welland hospital will be greatly reduced by the end of February due to what is described as ongoing staff shortages.
— Jeff Burch (@JeffBurch_) January 20, 2023
A thread: 1/4 pic.twitter.com/s3cmwQRwQM
1/4 NH would like to set the record straight.
— NiagaraHealth (@niagarahealth) January 20, 2023
• We currently have 20 anesthetists with five to six anesthesiologists who can retire in 2023. To maintain the current model, we need 30.
• We have had a number of physicians leave Niagara Health to join single site hospitals.