Operational Update: Emergency Department
July 23, 2025 –Sault Area Hospital (SAH) is providing an update on Emergency Department operations to keep our community informed.
Recently, we communicated that physician coverage hours in the ED have been reduced. This change has placed added pressure on the department. SAH is taking several steps to support both patient care and staff during this time:
- Adding more nursing staff to help manage patient needs.
- Working to improve test turnaround times.
- Making better use of space in the department to ease congestion.
- Adjusting nurse practitioner and physician assistant schedules so more help is available during our busiest times.
- Reviewing hospital-wide bed use to ease pressure in the Emergency Department.
In the coming weeks, SAH will introduce a new digital tool to support patients with less urgent needs. When appropriate, this tool may allow some lower-urgency patients to wait safely at home rather than in the department.
Despite reduced physician coverage hours, we want to reassure our community that the Emergency Department has maintained full shift coverage and has avoided any closures or gaps in service to date. We continue to work with Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health on long-term solutions to strengthen emergency care access in our region.
SAH remains committed to providing safe, timely care and to keeping our community informed as the situation evolves. We thank all patients and families for their patience and understanding. Those with non-urgent concerns may experience longer wait times. If you visit the Emergency Department, please consider bringing medications and comfort items to make your wait more manageable.
If you are unsure whether you need emergency care, you can contact Health811 by calling 8-1-1 or visiting Health811. In the event of a medical emergency, always call 9-1-1 or go directly to the Emergency Department.