The shortage of doctors and hospital staff has once again forced the temporary closure of some services in three rural hospitals.
In particular, obstetrics is not available at the Rocky Mountain House Health Center until Monday morning.
Parents-to-be are encouraged to make their way to Red Deer Regional Hospital, about an hour away, when care is needed.
The closure of Rocky Mountain House is in addition to the ongoing closure of obstetrics in Sundre and Rimbey.
Read more:
Fort Saskatchewan hospital suspends services for pregnant women due to impact of COVID-19 on staff
Meanwhile, the Fairview Health Complex was without a doctor Friday night.
And the emergency department in Cold Lake will be without a doctor, periodically, over the weekend through Tuesday.
Nurses will still be on site to triage patients.
The province is failing Albertans, the NDP said in a press release sent out Saturday.
Read more:
High surgical loads, staffing shortages lead to patient transfers out of Red Deer
“Nixon is failing his constituents by remaining silent as all hospitals in his riding are cut off. Giving birth is one of the basic functions of a hospital, but now expecting parents have to travel outside their communities to give birth thanks to the PCU,” said health critic David Shepherd.
“This crisis in hospital staffing is a result of the PCU’s war on healthcare professionals and the PCU’s failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Shepherd added.
“I am extremely concerned that we will see more closures as the pressure on our hospitals increases. Jason Copping and the UCP continue to withhold AHS’s two-week forecast for hospital and ICU bed demand.”
The latest wave of OB and ER closures follows recent closures in Swan River and Wabasca.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Reference-globalnews.ca