Another birth unit closure coming for Pontiac Hospital

The Pontiac Hospital in Shawville, Que., will once again be temporarily closing itsobstetrics unit, this time from tonight to Wednesday morning.

The Centre intgr de sant et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais(CISSSO) said the departmentwill close at 8 p.m. Monday and won't reopen until 8 a.m. Wednesday.

It closed this past weekendbecause there wereno surgeons availableto perform emergencycaesarean sections, CISSSO said.

That shortage also forced itssurgical unit to shut down.

It's the seventh time this fall that the hospital has closed itsbirthing unit, with most closures blamed on a shortage of nurses.

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Two nurses from Montreal have started filling in, but CISSSO said they aren't available this time.

Women in labour will be sent to Gatineauif their health allows. If not, there will be "qualified staff" there to care for them, CISSSO said.