(June 3 2023)<\/p>\n
By: Tieja MacLaughlin<\/p>\n
Despite an inspiring<\/span>\u00a0community push to save it, Minden\u2019s Emergency Department has permanently closed as of June 1.<\/p>\n <\/span>Haliburton Highlands Health<\/span>\u00a0Services (HHHS) made the decision to close the Minden Emergency Department citing a nursing and medical staffing shortage.<\/p>\n \u201cThe on-going shortage of nursing and medical staff means we need to be as efficient as possible with how we allocate our staff and resources,\u201d reads\u00a0a statement on the HHHS website. \u201cHaving more staff available at a single site will help create a more stable staffing situation overall.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a heart break and significant loss to our community,\u201d said Patrick Porzuczek, leader of the\u00a0\u2018Save Minden ER\u2019 community group\u00a0that amassed nearly 5,000 members on Facebook (Minden\u2019s town population is 6,971). \u201cNow anyone who is ill, suffers a major cardiac event or stroke is in jeopardy. It puts the whole community at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n