ER hours in Oyen cut, with 10 acute care beds closed

By Medicine Hat News on January 12, 2023.

Alberta Health Services is temporarily reducing emergency department operating hours and closing 10 acute care beds at Oyen’s Big Country Hospital due to a lack of nursing staff.

Currently open 24/7, the hospital’s ED will begin closing nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., starting Jan. 16. Nursing staff will be onsite during daytime operating hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), with a physician on call.

Closure of the hospital’s 10 acute care beds will also take effect Jan. 16. Patients in hospital will either be discharged or transferred to another health centre, however long-term care residents will remain onsite, with nursing staff providing 24/7 care to long-term residents.

Oyen and area residents are still encouraged to seek care while the temporary measures are in effect. Individuals in need of emergent care are asked to call 911 or, if safely able, seek care at one of the next nearest health centres, which include Hanna Health Centre (113 km away), Coronation Hospital (135 km away), Provost Health Centre (140 km away), Brooks Health Centre (187 km away) or Medicine Hat Regional Hospital (196 km away).

AHS did not provide an estimate of how long the measures may be in effect, however representatives will be available to answer questions about such during an in-person community engagement session this evening. The engagement session will take place at the Oyen Royal Canadian Legion, located at 207 Fifth Avenue E, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., and is open to all.

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