LAVAL A Laval hospital has closed more than half the beds in its maternity ward this weekend because it doesn t have enough staff. While there are many women ready to give birth, the staff shortage has pushed the Cité-de-la-Santé hospital in Laval to restrict capacity, leaving half of the 13 maternity beds out of commission. Dr. Judy Morris, head of the Quebec Association of Emergency Room Physicians, says staffing across Quebec has been stretched thin, leaving gaps in specialized areas. In the “[emergency room], ICU, maternity wards, these are areas where they need specialized personnel,” said Morris. In the last month, emergency rooms across Quebec have been stretched well beyond capacity.