Chatham residents who rely on outpatient hospital services should note several temporary changes at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance facilities on Monday, Sept. 7, as the organisation recognises the Labour Day statutory holiday.
What will be closed and what will stay open
The health alliance has announced that many outpatient departments at both the Chatham and Wallaceburg sites will not operate on the holiday. That includes several programs that often serve patients living across the region, particularly those who travel from rural townships into the city for care.
- Closed on Sept. 7: Ambulatory Care Services; Outpatient Rehabilitation Services; Pre-Surgical Screening Services; the Diabetes Education Centre; the TIA and CAD clinics; the Pulmonary Function Lab; Outpatient Lab Services; Health Records; Patient Appointment Offices; Musculoskeletal Rapid Access Clinic (Chatham site); Chatham-Kent Mental Health and Addictions Program Outpatient Department; Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine clinic; Elston Pharmacy at the Chatham site; Oncology/Chemotherapy Department; Business Office and Cashier’s Office.
- Open/operational: Emergency departments at both Chatham and Wallaceburg will be open 24 hours; Hemodialysis treatment will continue as usual; some outpatient diagnostic tests already scheduled will still take place.
Officials asked patients who have pre-booked diagnostic appointments to attend as scheduled; those particular departments will be staffed to support inpatients and emergency needs.
Access and urgent help
For people experiencing an immediate mental-health crisis, the hospital reiterated other care pathways remain available. The health alliance provided a dedicated crisis number for those needing urgent support.
Anyone experiencing an immediate crisis is asked to call the crisis line at 1-866-299-7447 or visit the nearest emergency room.
Additionally, two bill changers will be left accessible in the building for anyone needing coin change while administrative offices are closed.
Local impacts and context
For many in Chatham and surrounding rural communities, the holiday modifications emphasise the ongoing challenge of coordinating care across regional health networks on statutory holidays. Patients who travel from outlying townships to the city for scheduled rehabilitation, diabetes education or addiction follow-up should plan alternative arrangements or confirm appointments in advance.
Emergency services remain a constant. With both emergency departments staffed around the clock, hospital administrators aim to preserve urgent-care capacity while scaling back non-urgent outpatient activities. Hemodialysis patients can expect no disruption to their treatment schedule on Labour Day, a critical assurance for those whose care cannot be deferred.
Quick reference
| Service | Status on Sept. 7 |
|---|---|
| Emergency departments (Chatham and Wallaceburg) | Open 24 hours |
| Hemodialysis | Open as usual |
| Outpatient diagnostic tests (scheduled) | Proceed as scheduled |
| Ambulatory care, outpatient rehab, diabetes education, mental-health outpatient, oncology/chemo, Elston Pharmacy, business office | Closed for the day |
Patients with questions about specific appointments or services should contact the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance directly before the holiday to confirm arrangements. The temporary reductions reflect a common practice among hospital systems during statutory holidays, balancing staff availability with the need to maintain emergency and essential services for communities across the region.
