According to Alberta Health Services, there will be no physician on site in the emergency department at the Swan Hills Healthcare Centre from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., from April 5 – April 14, due to a lack of available physicians and an inability to secure locum coverage.
Officials say this is a temporary measure and nursing staff will remain on site in the emergency department providing triage and assessments and referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments in surrounding communities.
AHS also says the Swan Hills Healthcare Centre emergency department will be closed nightly from 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m., from April 5 – April 14, due to an unexpected lack of registered nursing staff and an inability to secure temporary coverage.
Officials say they hope to resume regular hours as soon as possible.
Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency.
Officials say EMS will remain available to the community and will be re-routed to surrounding healthcare centres as needed to ensure local residents continue to have access to the emergency services they need.
For non-urgent health-related questions, call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7.
