Community Outraged Over Potential Closure of Durham Hospital

Durham Community Hospital Faces Uncertain Future as Inpatient Beds are Transferred

Durham’s Community Hospital has been facing a crisis as the emergency department (ED) has been closed in the evenings and overnight for almost two months due to a severe lack of staff. This decision has left many in the Durham community concerned about the future of their hospital.

The South Bruce Grey Health Centre (SBGHC) recently announced that an “intensified” nursing shortage has forced them to transfer 10 inpatient beds from Durham to hospitals in Walkerton and Kincardine. While the ED will remain open for 12 hours a day, the loss of inpatient beds has raised fears that the hospital may be in danger of closing.

Members of the Save the Durham Hospital group, including West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles and West Grey resident Christine Robinson, are fighting to keep the hospital open. They believe that the citizens of Durham deserve to have their healthcare needs met and are seeking legal advice to prevent the closure of the hospital.

SBGHC officials have stated that they have no plans to close Durham’s hospital, but the bed transfers are necessary due to ongoing nursing shortages. They have reassured the community that they are working with the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health to maintain services across all SBGHC sites.

Despite these assurances, the Durham community is taking action to save their hospital. They are hosting a public meeting at Durham’s arena on May 7 to rally support and show that they are not willing to let their hospital close. This is not the first time Durham’s hospital has faced closure, but community pressure and innovative solutions have kept it open in the past.

As the community comes together to fight for their hospital, the future of Durham’s Community Hospital remains uncertain. Residents are determined to keep their hospital open and ensure that their healthcare needs are met.