A rural Nova Scotia hospital has closed its emergency department until further notice.

On Sunday, the Nova Scotia Health Authority said in a release that Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital Emergency Department in Tatamagouche is temporarily closing at 8 a.m. Monday, until further notice.

The health authority added the closure is not related to the COVID-19 situation.

The closure is due to a lack of local physician resources "due to unforeseen circumstances," the NSHA said in an email Sunday.

Current scheduling cannot meet the required minimum level of staffing needed to support the day and night operations of the emergency department, the email said.

The NSHA said the hospital has fewer physicians available. Two local doctors are off temporarily, and two others are "working to serve the community at this time."

This closure allows the doctors and nursing staff to "redirect the resources to meet the health-care needs of the community and northern zone," the NSHA said.

Three additional beds from the emergency department will be used to provide additional in-patient care, bringing the total to 13.

The primary health-care clinic's physicians and nurse practitioner will continue to care for all current patients at the clinic, as well as patients of Dr. Mike Glasgow and former patients of Dr. Chris Moss.

North Cumberland provides nearest ER

Anyone who has questions about the availability of services may also contact the hospital at 902-657-2382.

The Lillian Fraser hospital, like many in rural parts of the province, has struggled with physician coverage in recent months. The NSHA alerted the public in July, and earlier this month, that the department would be closed for many hours over weekends.

The North Cumberland Memorial Hospital in Pugwash is one of the closest emergency departments, about a 30-minute drive away.

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