UPDATE: Alberta Health Services has confirmed that coverage has been secured to re-open the emergency department until 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 7.
However, the department will be closed overnight and will re-open for 24-hour service at 8 a.m. on Friday, August 8.
The closure had previously been expected to last until 5 p.m. on Friday.
BACKGROUND
The temporary closure of the Milk River Health Centre’s emergency department has been extended. The department will be closed until 5 p.m. on Friday, August 8.
Alberta Health Services says this is due to “an unexpected clinical personnel shortage and inability to secure coverage”.
Once the closure is done, the ED will reopen for 24-hour service. During the temporary closure, nursing staff will stay on-site to help long-term care residents.
Patients are asked to call 911 for any medical emergencies, while patients seeking care can access emergency services at the Raymond Health Centre or Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.
Individuals can also call Health Link at 811 for non-emergency health-related questions. Health Link is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Anyone needing non-emergency medical care can also call their family physician.
