The Obstetrics Unit at Leamington District Memorial Hospital is getting a temporary reprieve from closure while a new panel studies its impact.
The Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network board extended the closure date until at least June. It was slated to close in March, but board decided to wait until a report returns from the panel.
Some of the 16 staff members affected have started searching for other work.
"We had one person leave already who found another job and there's a possibility that a couple more are going to be leaving," says hospital CEO Terry Shields.
Staff flight is a serious concern while the fate of the OB Unit is not known.
"It's right in front of us every single day,” says Shields. “And it's really hard when you talk to staff because I can't give them any certainty about how long this program is going to be here."
Marilyn Waites has worked there for 40 years, 28 of those in the maternity ward.
"I'm happy for them because they're younger than me and they definitely want their future, but yes I'm concerned about how we're going to maintain here."
She clings to the hope that funding will come while the unit remains.
"I'm sure everybody in the community is happy, but we have to have staff to run this unit,” she says. “We need to have obstetricians. We have to have trained obstetrical staff and if we lose that we will not be able to run this unit still."
