No more Saturday ER service at Montague hospital starting Jan. 11, says Health P.E.I. [Video]

The emergency department at Kings County Memorial Hospital in Three Rivers will temporarily stop operating on Saturdays in the new year, says Health P.E.I. 

The agency said the ER at the eastern P.E.I. hospital will be open Monday to Friday only starting Jan. 11, citing staffing challenges. It will continue to be closed on Sundays. 

Health P.E.I. CEO Melanie Fraser said the emergency department is experiencing a shortage of staff at a time when demand for emergency services is increasing, and pausing the Saturday service will let her officials stabilize the situation and continue to develop a long-term plan to ensure sustainable emergency care.

Fraser said it was not a decision that was made lightly.

“Staffing has been a struggle there on Saturdays particularly, so rather than making a week-by-week decision on keeping the facility open on Saturdays, for more stability for the community and for the scheduling for staff, …