TEMPORARY EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CLOSURES IN EASTERN ZONE (AUG. 16-22)

The following emergency departments (ED) in Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Eastern Zone (Cape Breton Island, Antigonish and Guysborough counties) will experience temporary closures between Aug. 15 and 22:

• Victoria County Memorial Hospital (Baddeck)

Closed: Friday, Aug. 16 at 4 p.m.; Reopens: Saturday, Aug. 17 at 8 a.m.

Closed: Saturday, Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. Reopens: Sunday, Aug. 18 at 8 a.m.

Closed: Sunday, Aug. 18 at 4 p.m.; Reopens: Monday, Aug. 19 at 8 a.m.

Closed: Thursday, Aug. 22 at 4 p.m.: Reopens: Friday, Aug. 23 at 8 a.m.

• New Waterford Consolidated Hospital

Closed: Friday, Aug. 16 at noon; Reopens: Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 7 a.m.

Closed: Friday, Aug. 23 at noon; Reopens: Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 7 a.m.

*NWC ED is closed evenings, overnight and Sundays & Mondays

• Strait Richmond Hospital (Evanston)

Closed: Saturday, Aug 17 at 8 a.m.; Reopens: Monday, Aug. 19 at 8 a.m.

Closed: Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 8 a.m.; Reopens: Thursday, Aug. 22 at 8 a.m.

• Guysborough Memorial Hospital

Closed: Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 6 a.m.; Reopens: Saturday, Aug 24 at 8 a.m.

These closures are in addition to previously announced ED closures for:

• Northside General Hospital (North Sydney)

Closed until Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 8 a.m.

*NSG ED is closed evenings and overnight

• Eastern Memorial Hospital (Canso)

Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed overnight

• Glace Bay Hospital

Closed for the month of August.

Emergency department closures at hospitals in New Waterford, North Sydney, Baddeck, Evanston, Glace Bay and Guysborough are due to lack of physician coverage. Eastern Memorial Hospital’s emergency department closures are due to lack of nursing coverage.

Anyone with urgent medical needs should call 911, particularly if experiencing unusual symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, abdominal pain, persistent headache or dizziness, or an injury requiring stitches or involving a broken bone.

For non-urgent care, please call your family doctor/primary care provider or visit a walk-in clinic if there is one in your area.

For general health advice and information call 811, which is a service offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week by experienced registered nurses.

The provincial Mental Health Crisis Line can also be reached 24/7 by calling 1-888-429-8167.

Visit the Temporary Closures Information page at www.nshealth.ca for emergency department closures and other service interruptions.