A 24-hour closure of the emergency department at the\u00a0Richards Landing-Matthews Site on St. Joseph Island is planned for this week.<\/p>\n
The North Shore Health Network says the emergency room will be closed from 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 to 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6.<\/p>\n
There will be a nurse practitioner\u00a0on-site for urgent health concerns from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cEfforts to find coverage are ongoing and should a physician be secured NSHN will reverse the closure and update the community as soon as possible,\u201d said the health network in a news release.<\/p>\n
Anyone requiring immediate medical attention should still call 9-1-1. Ambulances will be re-routed.<\/p>\n
The closest Emergency Departments to the Richards Landing – Matthews Site are:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tSault Area Hospital \u2013 750 Great Northern Rd., Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
\n\tThessalon Site \u2013 North Shore Health Network \u2013 135 Dawson St., Thessalon, Ont.\u00a0
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Non-emergency health advice or information is available by contacting Health811 by calling 8-1-1, or the toll free TTY line: 1-866-797-007.\u00a0<\/p>\n
You can also start a live chat with an advisor online at\u00a0Health Connect Ontario<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n Same day virtual access to a nurse practitioner is also available through the North East Virtual Care Clinic. This is for patients who have minor health issues and do not have a primary care provider or access to one in a timely manner.<\/p>\n