St. Marys emergency department temporarily reduces hours

St. Marys Memorial Hospital in a photo from the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance's Twitter page.

The emergency department at St. Marys Memorial Hospital will temporarily reduce its hours this weekend due to ongoing health human resource shortages, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) says.

The ER will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and will reopen at 7 a.m. on Sunday when regular 24-hour service is expected to resume.

Officials said anyone needing immediate medical attention should call 911. Paramedics will continue to respond and transport patients to the nearest available emergency department to ensure access to urgent care.

For non-urgent health concerns, residents can contact Health Connect Ontario at 811, available around the clock.

The closest 24-hour emergency departments include:

• Stratford General Hospital (HPHA)
• South Huron Hospital in Exeter*
• Alexandra Hospital in Ingersoll*
• London Health Sciences Centre – University Hospital or Victoria Hospital

Hospitals marked with an asterisk advise checking ahead to confirm hours of operation.