UPDATE: Alberta Health Services says the temporary closure has been extended to 5 p.m. on Friday, December 19.
BACKGROUND
The emergency department at the Milk River Health Centre is temporarily closed.
Alberta Health Services says due to “an unexpected clinical personnel shortage and inability to secure coverage”, the department will be closed until 8 a.m. on Friday, December 19. It will then reopen for 24-hour service.
Officials note that during the temporary closure, nursing staff will stay on-site to support long-term care residents.
Patients can call 911 if they have a medical emergency. AHS says that EMS services are ready to respond to emergency events and support inter-facility transfers to surrounding sites. Anyone seeking care can access emergency services at the Raymond Health Centre and Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.
Residents can also call Health Link at 811. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for non-emergency health-related questions. Anyone needing non-emergency medical care is also encouraged to call their family physician.
