Area residents rallied outside the Whitbourne clinic yesterday protesting weeks and weeks of ER closures and diversions due to staff shortages.

Whitbourne is located where the Trans Canada merges into the divided highway.

Andrew Pretty of Dildo says there was a huge turnout at yesterday’s rally.

He says area residents agree they are not willing to accept anything less than 24/7 emergency care at the local clinic.

Mayor Hilda Whelan says she knows it’s tough to recruit health care workers, but she says it comes down to money, and they’re just not putting the money on the table.