Smiths Falls, ON – In spite of our best efforts to preserve care in the Perth Emergency Department, COVID-19 has placed yet another burden on our fragile staffing situation. Today we learned of a COVID-19 outbreak impacting our Emergency Department Staff. This left the PSFDH team with no other option but to close the Perth Emergency Department effective Saturday, July 2 at 7 a.m. Available staff from the Perth Emergency Department will move to the Smiths Falls Site Emergency Department to support the anticipated increase in patients.

Residents in our catchment area can continue to access emergency care at the Smiths Falls Site located at 60 Cornelia Street West, Smiths Falls or the closest alternate emergency department.

At this time, this temporary emergency department closure will remain in effect until Thursday, July 7, 2022. As our staffing situation stabilizes, we will gradually reopen the Perth Emergency Department. Upon reopening, the Perth Emergency Department will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

We have informed our regional partners such as ambulance services, partner hospitals and public health regarding the upcoming closures.
The Smiths Falls Site Emergency Department continues to be open 24 hrs/day, seven (7) days per week as the reduction to Emergency Department hours impacts only the Perth Emergency Department.

PSFDH team continues to support our staff, and work with them, through this challenging time to ensure safe care for patients and to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for staff and physicians.

The PSFDH team appreciates your understanding and patience and as our staffing complement stabilizes, we will communicate any changes. Updates will be shared via our hospital Facebook page and through local media channels.

Anyone requiring immediate medical help should call 911 and paramedics will get you to the nearest emergency department for care.

Read the full media release from Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital