The Milk River Emergency Department will be temporarily closed on Thursday due to staffing shortages, according to Alberta Health Services (AHS).
In a statement released on Wednesday, AHS announced that the emergency department at the Milk River Health Centre will be closed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 9.
The closure is due to a lack of available physicians to cover the shift, according to AHS.
Residents of Milk River and surrounding areas are advised to call 911 in case of an emergency during the closure. They can also visit the emergency department at the Raymond Health Centre, which is approximately 40 kilometers away.
AHS assures that the closure is temporary and the emergency department will resume normal operations on Friday, December 10 at 8 a.m.
This is not the first time the Milk River Emergency Department has faced temporary closures due to staffing shortages. In October, the department was closed for two days due to a similar issue.
AHS is actively working to address the staffing shortage and ensure that the emergency department can continue to provide essential services to the community.
Residents are advised to check the AHS website or call Health Link at 811 for updates on the status of the emergency department.
In the meantime, AHS is reminding residents to call 911 in case of a medical emergency and to visit the nearest emergency department if necessary.
The closure of the Milk River Emergency Department highlights the ongoing challenges faced by rural communities in accessing healthcare services. AHS is committed to finding solutions to these challenges and ensuring that all Albertans have access to quality healthcare.
