Ontario NDP checks in with Minden Residents nearly 2 months after ER closure

MINDEN – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP, spoke to residents in Minden on Friday about the impacts of the Minden Emergency Room (ER) closing almost two months ago.

“This spring we saw an outpouring of support for the Minden ER and an inspiring movement to save it,” said Stiles. “Despite local support for the ER, Ford’s Conservatives didn’t lift a finger to save it – not even Minden’s PC MPP Laurie Scott. That speaks volumes for how out of touch they are with their communities.”

“It’s been almost two months since Minden’s ER was forced to close, and things are not okay here,” said MPP Chris Glover (Spadina – Fort York). “People are having to drive all the way to Haliburton for critical services, and waste precious time in an emergency. That’s unacceptable.”

Minden’s ER closed on June 1st, and ERs have continued to face closures across the province. This past weekend, ten other ERs or clinics were forced to close or limit services because of a lack of support and resources. Those ERs include:

• Carleton Place ER CLOSED overnight Saturday, July 22 —Sunday, July 23
• Chesley ER CLOSED Thursday, July 20—Monday, July 24
• Durham ER CLOSED Friday, July 21—Monday, July 24
• Hamilton General Hospital is diverting ICU patients.
• Kapuskasing’s Sensenbrenner Hospital is seeking urgent ER locum for Tuesday, July 25—Sunday, July 30
• Mount Forest’s Louise Marshall ER CLOSED overnight Thursday, July 20—Friday, July 21
• Nipigon District Memorial Hospital’s Urgent Care Centre CLOSED Wednesday, July 19—Tuesday, July 25
• South Bruce Grey Health Centre is undertaking ambulance by-pass to divert patients
• Walkerton ER CLOSED Saturday, July 22—Sunday, July 23
• Wingham and District ER CLOSED overnight Sunday, July 23 — Monday, July 24

Minden is right in the middle of the fight to save public healthcare in Ontario,” said Stiles. “We will continue to fight to protect public healthcare and to ensure that the Minden ER is restored, and that these ERs across the province are supported and fully resourced so this never happens again. Public health care is a human right, and the Ontario NDP will fight every day to protect that.”