ER Report Released

Hospitals across northwestern Ontario are being urged to work closer together in resolving staffing shortages at their emergency rooms.

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network released a report on Emergency Departments across the region yesterday.

Spokesperson Laura Kokochinski says the network wanted to find a way of staffing the ER's.

"There's heavy reliance on locums or out of town physicians to try to fill those gaps on a temporary basis," says Kokochinski, "and the LHIN was concerned about the sustainability of emergency services in the northwest. The purpose of this study was to identify some possible future models and options."

Kokochinski says the report recommends increased co-operation between hospitals in the region to find some solutions.

The report was issued follow a visit to hospitals, including Riverside Health Care Facilities, by a consultant.