Western Hospital emergency closures 'unacceptable'

The emergency at P.E.I.'s Western Hospital has been forced to close 12 times this month due to a doctor shortage, and West Prince residents met Thursday night to voice their concerns.

More than 100 people attended the Elmsdale meeting, and formed long queues at the microphone to ask questions. Meeting organizer Natasha Dunn said the community is pushing the government to act quickly.

"We didn't let it slide, and we said this is unacceptable and we need to do something about this,' said Dunn.

"What we want from government is commitment that our ER, at our hospital, will be open 24/7."

MLA for Alberton-Roseville Pat Murphy was at the meeting and said the government is looking for solutions. None of their plans, he said, include closing the hospital's ER. "We're looking at ways to keep our services open, alive here," said Murphy.

"I'm certainly well-committed to Western Hospital, and the 24/7 emergency room."

Murphy said they are considering changing the doctors' schedules and looking at the Collaborative Emergency Centre healthcare model.

Dunn says she and her associates will take the concerns voiced at the meeting to Health PEI.