Thessalon may have to close its clinic including the emergency department.
The four-bed medical clinic in Thessalon may have to close entirely between Christmas Day and January 4th due to a lack of doctors.
The clinic is allocated for four physicians, but for the past two years there have only been two available and they are considering leaving due to burnout.
North Shore Health Network CEO Richard Joly say they cannot operate the emergency department without a physician, so the network continues to look for viable solutions.
He adds he is committed to pursuing every available avenue to avoid closure.
Joly adds there is a full-time recruiter who works to recruit physicians and locum physicians and will keep the community informed about the situation.
The Thessalon clinic is one of three operated by the North Shore Health Network. There are also clinics in Blind River and Richard’s Landing. All three have 24-hour, seven-days-a-week emergency department coverage.