Pontiac Hospital extends birthing unit's closure

The Pontiac Hospital in Shawville, Que. has extended the closure of itsobstetrics unit until Monday, Jan. 6.

The unit has been closed for three weeks and was slated to reopen Friday morning but willnow reopen on Monday, according to a news release fromthe Outaouais health network.

The break in service is being extended because the unit is lacking a surgeon who can preform caesareansections, the health agencysaid.

The Pontiac hospital has been forced to close the unit 10 times since September, due to nursing staffshortages.

But a lack of nurses was not an issue in extending this closure, the agency said.

Pregnant women in labour will be evaluated at the Pontiac Hospital before being redirected to the Gatineau Hospital.

The agency said the hospital managed to avoid a break ingeneral surgeries with help from a surgeon from another region.