Chatham-Kent’s hospital is reporting fewer staff vacancies at its Chatham and Wallaceburg sites.
According to information provided by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, only 6.67 per cent of staff positions at the hospital were unfilled at the end of April.
Hospital officials noted an improvement over the month prior where the CKHA’s vacancy rate sat at 7.79 per cent.
“This is something that this organization is incredibly proud of. It provides a much more encouraging outlook for staffing for the hospital during our peak vacation period this summer compared to where we were at last year,” said Meredith Whitehead, CKHA’s chief nursing executive.
The improved staffing situation also means an increase in surgical procedures being performed at CKHA. Figures show roughly 8900 procedures were completed in 2022-23, the highest volume in the past five years.
The provincial average for vacant staff positions in Ontario’s hospitals was 11.2 per cent at the end of March.
Whitehead said the hospital also continues to make progress on filling vacant registered nurse positions. CKHA currently has 11.04 percent vacancy rate for RNs, compared to the provincial rate of 15.46 per cent.
In 2022, 615 jobs were posted within CKHA with 212 staff joining the hospital.