Politicians and hospital administrators didn't even attempt to gloss over the closure of the ER in Souris. They said Thursday it was the only way to ensure the long-term success of the hospital.

The January 1st closure was announced, ironically, at a public meeting called to find solutions to the crisis facing the local hospital.


The emergency room has been closed a number of times

Hospital administrators have had to close the ER for short periods of time on 26 occasions over the last year. They were all due to the fact that a physician could not be found to do the on-call shift.

The eastern P.E.I. hospital is short two of the four doctors that are approved to work in the area.

It's not for lack of trying according to Cecil Villard, director of Community Hospitals and Continuing Care on P.E.I. He said doctors that sign up for short-term duty with the hospital and physicians looking for a place to practice are all pitched on making a home in Souris.

"We've had over 30 locums go through the Souris hospital, there's been nine focus visits, so there has been a great deal of energy put into recruiting physicians for the hospital. And it demonstrates that if we're not able to recruit there has to be a problem, and the problem is the model we currently have," said Villard.

He said physicians are not interested in working full days in their own practices and then being on the hook for an overnight or weekend shift in the ER.

Dennis Thibodeau, a town councilor who also on the hospital board, said residents now know where they stand too.

"I live in Souris, maybe a killometre from the hospital, I don't know when it's opened and closed. I see a sign or I read it in the paper. You could have a case where you know you go there in dire straits and it's closed type thing. So there is a certain liability there involved with that."


Mooney said the hospital would stay open

MLA Andy Mooney said the closure would go a long way to securing the future of the hospital.

"I can say unequivocally our hospital is safe as in God's pocket. The bottom line is, this is not about pulling anything from our community. This move is made to try to secure our hospital, to make ensure that it's there."

Dr. Stephen O'Brien, who used to work in Souris but left for a less stressful practice in Charlottetown, said the decision would make it easier to find new doctors for the area.

"It probably will help in the recruitment process, I know talking to a doctor who was in Souris recently who felt pulled in all directions. He'd be in the office, and they'd be calling him in emergency department, and on the hospital floor, and he felt he was trying to answer to too many bosses."

Villard said many doctors don't want emergency room shifts, and don't practice the specialized trauma medicine you see in the ER.

Responding to questions in the provincial legislature, Health Minister Chester Gillan said there are no plans to reverse the decision to shut the ER. Even if two more doctors are recruited for the area.