Eastern Health is alerting the public to more emergency room closures at the two health centres due to staff shortages.
Both the Dr. William H. Newhook Community Centre in Whitbourne and the U.S. Memorial Health Centre in St. Lawrence will be without emergency services for a week—from 8:00 a.m. Monday until 8:00 a.m. the following Monday, December 19.
Family practice clinics, outpatient labs, and ambulatory treatment will continue to be available, by appointment, at both health centres.
Whitbourne patients with a medical emergency who need an ambulance should call 911, while those with a serious medical problem should go to the nearest open emergency department in Carbonear, Placentia or St. John’s.
Additional appointments have also been added at the family practice clinic in St. Lawrence for the coming week to meet the increased demand.
In case of a medical emergency, patients there should call 911 or go to the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre or the Dr. S. Beckley Clinic in Grand Bank if they feel they have a serious or urgent medical problem.