“We have almost needed to close our emergency department several times over the last couple years. The local doctors, who work in the emergency department, rearranged their schedules to prevent closure.”
In a recent news release, Dr Carolyn Brown shared some context to help residents better understand how the North Hastings Hospital Emergency Department functions and how this can sometimes impact visits with your family doctor.
Dr. Brown explained that our hospital is a ‘Level One hospital’, (as are Barry’s Bay and Haliburton).
This means, that complicated conditions such as trauma from a car accident, or appendicitis will necessitate transfer to a Level 2 or 3 hospital.
“It’s often very difficult to transfer patients. Phone calls are made to find a “bed”, or spot, but many hospitals are full. After the person is accepted in the bigger hospital, we need to transport them to that spot by using land ambulances or helicopter ambulances. Sometimes the doctor needs to “go out” with the patient and we need to call to find another physician to cover.”
Dr Brown explained that, at the moment, there are only 4 local doctors working in the emergency department: Drs Nolte, Ferreira, Griffin and Keila.
“Not all of these doctors will be available at any given time. I am amazed that the emergency department has not needed to temporarily close in the past few years. (The hospital does have emergency plans in case this needs to happen.)”
Dr. Brown thanked all the patients of the physicians who can’t see their own doctor because those doctors are working in the emergency department.
“I know it is frustrating, but your neighbour is being seen in the emergency department for their appendicitis, heart attack or pneumonia.”
“In our area, working in the emergency department is one of the “jobs” that the local doctors do.”
You can read the full press release from Dr Brown here:
Health corner – North Hastings
By Dr Carolyn Brown
March 18, 2025
Why can’t I see my family doctor today?
The North Hastings Emergency Department story
The hospital in Bancroft, was known as the North Hastings District Hospital (NHDH), and used to be a Red Cross Hospital. In 1985 it amalgamated with the Belleville General Hospital.
That was the time of Drs. Lehinant, Johnson, McEnery, Christiansen and Calder. Dr Brown and Dr Cooper arrived in 1986.
We had 21 beds. NHDH had no lab in hospital. Only regular xrays were done. Uncomplicated obstetrical deliveries were performed.
In 1986, emergency patients who could “travel”, were sent to the doctors’ office. The other people were seen in the Emergency department at the hospital, (which is now the Riverstone retirement residence). Doctors were paid “fee for service”. If one person came into the emergency department in the night, they got one fee for that patient for the nights’ work. All of the local doctors worked in the Emergency department. We never needed to “close” the emergency department, but, we were close several times. I remember Dr Mcenery was ready to go out and cover up the “H”(hospital) signs.
Since that time, we have a new hospital (1 Manor Lane). We have 8 beds and can “surge” to 10. Xrays now include a CT scanner and the regular xrays. We have point of care testing (lab work) and only emergency deliveries are performed. The emergency physicians are now paid an hourly amount.
More doctors came to Bancroft, but not all were working in the emergency department. These physicians concentrate their time on the other “parts of the job” like the Manor, hospice etc. There have not been enough local doctors to cover “emerg” so we have had Health Force Ontario (“from away”) doctors for many years. These doctors (HFO) get an hourly rate to travel and work in underserviced areas. Also, the College of Physicians and Surgeons made new rules for emergency doctors that required them to work a certain number of hours a month and take more emergency courses. Due to this, there are even less doctors able to work in North Hastings emergency department.
We have almost needed to close our emergency department several times over the last couple years. The local doctors, who work in the emergency department, rearranged their schedules to prevent closure.
Our hospital is a Level One hospital, as are Barry’s Bay and Haliburton. If you have a complicated condition, like a car accident, you may be transferred to a bigger hospital. Most serious trauma patients will need a Level 3 hospital. (Belleville and Peterborough – Level 2 and
Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto – Level 3). If you need to have your appendix removed you need to go to a Level 2 hospital. If you need to go to the intensive care unit, you will need to go to Belleville or Peterborough or transferred to a level 3 hospital.
It’s often very difficult to transfer patients. Phone calls are made to find a “bed”, or spot, but many hospitals are full. After the person is accepted in the bigger hospital, we need to transport them to that spot by using land ambulances or helicopter ambulances. Sometimes the doctor needs to “go out” with the patient and we need to call to find another physician to cover.
Sometimes the nearest hospitals are full and the person needs to go to a place further away.
At the moment there are only 4 local doctors working in the emergency department: Drs Nolte, Ferreira, Griffin and Keila. Not all of these doctors will be available at any given time. I am amazed that the emergency department has not needed to temporarily close in the past few years. (The hospital does have emergency plans in case this needs to happen.)
I thank all the patients of these physicians who can’t see their own doctor because those doctors are working in the emergency department. I know it is frustrating, but your neighbour is being seen in the emergency department for their appendicitis, heart attack or pneumonia.
In our area, working in the emergency department is one of the “jobs” that the local doctors do. More to follow.
