Surgery, birthing units to close at Pontiac Hospital this weekend

The Pontiac Hospital in Shawville, Que., will close two units this weekend due to theunexpected absence of a surgeon, the region's health authority announced Friday.

The Centre intgr de sant et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais(CISSSO) said the hospital's general surgery and obstetrics units will close at 4 p.m. Friday and remain closeduntil 8 a.m. Monday.

The obstetrics unit is closing because there's no surgeon availableto perform emergencycaesarean sections, CISSSO said.

It's the sixth time this fall that the hospital will close itsbirthing unit. Previous closures were blamed on a shortage of nurses.

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This weekend, trauma cases will be referred to the nearest trauma centre andwomen in labour will be sent to Gatineau if their health allows. If not, there will be "qualified staff" there to care for them, CISSSO said.