Babies will not be born at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital this weekend.
Hamilton Health Sciences says a nation-wide shortage of operating room nurses has impacted the Grimsby hospital.
Officials say until they hire more nurses, they are not able to support the on-call surgical staffing that is required for obstetrical care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
All other services continue as usual, including 24/7 Emergency Department.
Women who go into labour from 3pm Friday to 7am Monday can deliver their babies at McMaster University Medical Centre or a hospital of their choice in the region.
The redirection is a safety measure, in the event that a woman requires a caesarian section or other post-birth surgery, which would be done in the Operating Room.
Co-Chair of Save West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Cindy Toth tells CKTB some nurses at the hospital have retired or left for various reasons leaving several vacancies.
She says interviews with new candidates are already underway so she's hoping the shortage/weekend cancellation will be very temporary.
She says the hospital's future is bright and it's a great place to work.
Toth says nurses from out of province are being offered a $30,000 signing bonus to come work for the hospital.
For more information click here.
There are usually 4-5 babies born at the hospital each weekend, but last weekend saw 11 babies delivered on Saturday and Sunday.
The hospital has faced several challenges in the past, but the Ontario Premier Doug Ford has promised a new hospital and committed $500,000 to launch the planning process.