The obstetrics department at Ville-Marie Hospital in Abitibi-Témiscamingue is suspended until Monday morning due to staff shortages.
The Abitibi-Témiscamingue Integrated Health and Social Services Center made the announcement Thursday at 7 p.m. on its Facebook page.
“The women affected by this situation have been contacted and a service corridor has been established with the Rouyn-Noranda hospital,” the message reads.
The two establishments are located 130 km away, or about 1 hour 30 minutes by car.
On Thursday noon, another break in service had already been announced in the same way, this time at the emergency department of the multi-service health and social services center, which will have to close on the nights of Friday to Saturday, Saturday to Sunday and Sunday to Monday, between 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.
This event takes place “due to the shortage of nursing resources and the withdrawal of nursing resources from private agencies,” the CISSS informed.
“Please note that during the hours when the service is closed, the ambulances will be directed to the Ville-Marie multi-service health and social services center,” he indicated.
This is not the first time that health services have been undermined in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Indeed, in mid-April last year, the same obstetrics department had been forced to close for more than six months.
In addition, the emergency department of the Temiscaming-Kipawa Multiservices Center announced a reduction in its services last November, and had to close its doors for several nights during the week of March 21.