Feedback from paramedics was a factor in the closure of the Minden ER.
That from the May CEO report released by Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) Thursday, which says local paramedic services highlighted the Haliburton site as more centralized in the county for patient transfers.
According to the report, the biggest reason remains severe and on-going staffing shortages which have affected both sites, particularly in terms of nursing staff.
Without this consolidation, HHHS says the community would have faced multiple, short-notice, temporary closures of one or likely both emergency departments at the same time, with less than two hours’ notice.
The report went on to say that the decision to consolidate emergency services is not a comment on the incredible care that has been provided by the team in Minden. HHHS says it deeply appreciates the many stories that have been shared about the care that community members have received at the Minden ED and the wonderful work of the Minden ED team.
**Written by Rick Lowes and Martin Halek