SHAWVILLE – Two nurses from Montreal will be coming to assist in the Obstetrics department at the Pontiac Hospital in Shawville.

Media relations spokesperson for the Outaouais Integrated Health and Social Services Centre, Patricia Rhaume, says the nurses are from the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal and will start in Shawville in November. Rhaume says earlier in October a woman had to deliver her baby in the ambulance as she was re-directed to the Gatineau hospital after finding out there was a shortage of qualified staff able to help in the Pontiac.

Rhaume says it’s great news for families in the community. Rhaume says there’s usually only nine or 10 deliveries a month in the Pontiac. She adds due to a staffing shortage the Obstetrics department has had five breaks in service over the last month. As the hospital in the Pontiac awaits the arrival of the two new nurses, there was another break in service over the weekend for the Obstetrics Department that ended today (Oct. 28).