“We know these closures are frustrating and concerning for the communities affected. They are not decisions we make lightly. This is the minimum level of closure required to maintain emergency care across the region.” – Dr. Kevin Chan, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs at Niagara Health.
News from Niagara Health, Niagara, Ontario’s amalgamated system of hospital services
Posted June 9th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
A banner from the Port Colborne Health Coalition, a citizens organization in the community fighting for the return of full day and night emergency hospital services
(A Brief Foreword Note from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – These new closure schedules come after Niagara Health made the controversial decision two years ago to reduce hours for the urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne from around the clock to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with not further patients being taking in after 8 p.m.
And now – thanks to a chronic shortage of doctors and a continued lack of funding for public health care services from the provincial and federal governments – we have this, despite an ongoing outcry from citizens in the communities to keep their urgent care centres open full-time.
Another message – this one from the Save Our Hospital citizens group in Fort Erie
Where will the cutting of public health care services in this region and others across the province and country end? Or is this where we will continue to go until everything the late Tommy Douglas did to champion a quality, accessible public health care system for all in Canada ends?
Meanwhile if you are in Fort Erie or Port Colborne this summer, try not to get seriously ill.)
Now here is the News Release from Niagara Health –
Niagara Health is announcing schedule changes at the Fort Erie and Port Colborne Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) due to a critical shortage of available physicians.
These changes are a measure of last resort, necessary to preserve safe, 24/7 operations at our Emergency Departments (EDs) in Niagara Falls, Welland and St. Catharines.
Effective later this month:
- * Both UCCS will face closures starting in July and running into early September.
- * Fort Erie closures will take place on Fridays and Port Colborne on Saturdays.
- * In addition, both UCCs will be closed on Canada Day (July 1) and Labour Day weekend (August 30-September 1)
- * Fort Erie UCC will also close for the Civic Holiday weekend (August 1-4)
Kevin Chan, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs at Niagara Health
“We know these closures are frustrating and concerning for the communities affected. They are not decisions we make lightly,” said Dr. Kevin Chan, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs at Niagara Health. “This is the minimum level of closure required to maintain emergency care across the region.”
The decision was made at the recommendation of our Emergency Department leadership and with the approval of Niagara Health’s Board of Directors, following extensive efforts to avoid disruption.
Despite exhaustive efforts – including financial incentives, direct outreach to local physicians, targeted recruitment campaigns and flexible scheduling – Niagara Health continues to face 111 unfilled physician shifts across all sites this summer. More than half of these are at the Marotta Family Hospital ED, with most of the remainder at the Niagara Falls Hospital ED.
“These are Niagara’s busiest and most acute care centres, receiving the highest volumes of ambulance arrivals and serving the sickest patients in the region,” said Dr. Rafi Setrak, Niagara Health chief of Emergency Medicine. “Prioritizing our Emergency Departments in Niagara Falls, Welland and St. Catharines is essential to maintaining region-wide access to emergency services.”
Providing the public with a predictable closure schedule ensures patients and families can make informed decisions about where to seek care. This approach supports patient safety and helps avoid last-minute, disruptive cancellations.
While physician shortages are a province-wide and global challenge, Niagara’s situation is made more difficult by the lack of access to primary care in Fort Erie and Port Colborne. Many residents rely on UCCs for concerns that could be better managed in a primary care setting – if that access existed.
“This isn’t just about urgent care – it’s about access to care, period,” said Dr. Chan. “The sustainable solution is team-based primary care in every community. Until that’s in place, hospitals are left managing system gaps with limited resources.”
For a related story, click on – Keep urgent care in smaller communities, Niagara residents tell Ontario party leaders | CBC News
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