Hospitals and the communities they serve share a special relationship — one built on compassion, trust and transparency. At Halton Healthcare, our values of Compassion, Accountability and Respect guide how we care for our patients, how we support one another and how we communicate with our communities.
In light of recent media coverage regarding staffing levels at Halton Healthcare, and particularly Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, we want to speak directly to our community and provide clear and accurate information.
First and foremost, delivering safe, high-quality, compassionate care is — and always will be — our top priority. Our people are at the heart of that care.
This summer, our teams have been responding to unusually high patient volumes and pressures more typically experienced during the fall and winter months. Between April and mid-September, we saw an unusual increase in patient visits. Emergency Department (ED) visits increased by 7.5% across our three hospitals, with our Oakville site experiencing 11.4% growth – the sixth highest in Ontario.
We want to clarify several points raised in recent reporting:
Staff departures: Employees leave for many professional and personal reasons. Attributing all of the departures in the OTMH ED over the summer months to reported concerns about safety or overcrowding is factually inaccurate.
Staff safety: Emergency Departments can be challenging environments, and the safety of our teams is something we take very seriously. Halton Healthcare has not experienced an increase in reported workplace violence or safety incidents in the Oakville ED. We are aware of increasing trends across the healthcare sector and this is something we are paying close attention to. We take a comprehensive approach to staff safety, issues and concerns.
Staffing: We have systems in place to respond to patient volumes and staffing needs in real time to ensure our departments are appropriately staffed. This includes moving nursing resources to areas experiencing the greatest pressure, proactively recruiting for anticipated vacancies and leaves, using agency nurses when required, and a dedicated float pool to provide coverage. Halton Healthcare remains a sought-after employer, with strong interest in positions across our organization. Learn more about our Command Centre and actions we are taking to improve flow and wait times here.
Unit Assistants: The Unit Assistant (UA) role was unique to OTMH and provided non-patient facing support. As our models of care evolve to meet leading practices, the role is being phased out; however, the majority have entered paid training to become Personal Support Workers to further their careers with Halton Healthcare. A small number have been redeployed or are retiring. Only one UA supported the OTMH ED, and work is actively underway to ensure this support continues.
We want to recognize the extraordinary efforts of our staff and professional staff, who continue to care for more patients through an exceptionally busy period. We are especially grateful for their flexibility, teamwork and willingness to step in and support colleagues and patients wherever the need is greatest. Since October 2025, reviews have shown a notable increase in patient satisfaction, reflecting the ongoing efforts of our teams to enhance ED patient experience.
We also want to thank our patients and families for their patience and understanding. We know that waiting for care is never easy, and the kindness and respect we have seen between our teams, patients and families during this challenging period speaks to the strength of the community we share.
As we look to the future, we see it as an exciting time as we transform how care is delivered across our organization (Georgetown Hospital, Milton District Hospital, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital). We are ready to respond to the changing needs of our growing communities, invest in our people, grow our teams, and prepare for the addition of 123 new beds.
-Adrienne Spafford, Chief Communications Officer, Halton Healthcare