Bassano Health Centre. (Image: Alberta Health Services)

By David Opinko / with files from The Canadian Press

Doctor shortage forces Southern Alberta emergency room closure over long weekend

Sep 2, 2022 | 9:30 AM

BASSANO, AB – Another Alberta emergency department will be temporarily shut down due to a lack of doctors.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced on Thursday, September 1, 2022, that the Bassano Health Centre’s emergency department will be closed from 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 2 to 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, due to a lack of physician coverage.

“As of September 7, the ED will also be extending its current hours of weekday coverage and weekend coverage until October 31, 2022,” reads a media release from AHS. “During this period, the ED will remain open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and open for the entire weekend, including overnight.”

The shortage also forces the temporary consolidation of Bassano Health Centre’s four acute care beds to the Brooks Health Centre, 51 kilometres from Bassano.

Earlier this summer, Airdrie was forced to close its emergency department due to a shortage of physician availability.

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The Milk River Health Centre’s Emergency Department has also seen numerous intermittent closures over the last couple of years.

As well, the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital has closed its obstetrics unit for the second time in less than a month due to a lack of specialists.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 1, 2022.

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