Closure of Weekend Walk-In Clinic Services Effective December 29, 2025
December 11, 2025
Huron Health System (HHS) is announcing the difficult decision to close South Huron Hospital’s (SHH) Weekend Walk-In Clinic (WIC) services at the South Huron Medical Centre effective December 29, 2025, due to significant and ongoing human resource challenges, specifically a critical shortage of available physicians.
Over the past year, the hospital has undertaken sustained efforts to recruit physicians to support weekend walk-in coverage. Despite these efforts, physician availability has continued to decline locally and nationally, making it no longer possible to safely and reliably staff weekend WIC operations. The focus at SHH remains on providing high-quality, 24/7 emergency department coverage, which it has successfully been able to maintain.
“We know how much our community relies on convenient access to care on weekends,” said Jimmy Trieu, President & CEO of HHS. “Unfortunately, the persistent shortage of physicians has led us to make this very difficult decision. Protecting patient safety and the quality of care must remain our priority.”
Dr. Sean Ryan, Chief of Staff of South Huron Hospital added, “Our physicians have been doing everything they can to support access to care, but the current staffing realities are simply unsustainable. Our priorities are maintaining 24/7 coverage in our emergency department and for our patients admitted to hospital. We remain committed to working with our partners to find long-term solutions, but in the meantime, we must make decisions that protect both patients and our clinical teams.”
Individuals seeking medical care on weekends for non-urgent concerns are encouraged to dial 811, where registered nurses are available to provide advice and help determine appropriate next steps. They may also access the Virtual Urgent Care Program at UrgentCareOntario.ca or by calling 1-844-227-3844 for support with urgent but non-emergency medical issues. During the week, those without a family doctor may also schedule an appointment at an Unattached Care Clinic in their area. For urgent or emergency medical needs, all patients should proceed to the nearest Emergency Department for immediate care.
All other hospital services remain unchanged.
Huron Health System remains committed to advocating for long-term solutions to physician recruitment and retention and will continue working with regional partners to support sustainable access to care for the community.