No physician coverage overnight at Cold Lake Emergency for next two days

Tonight and tomorrow night, there will be physician available at the Cold Lake hospital.

In a press release on Tuesday, Alberta Health Services said the Emergency Department at the Cold Lake Healthcare Centre will be without on-site physician coverage from 11p.m. to 7a.m. overnight tonight and during that same time on April 27 to the early morning of April 28.

AHS said this is a temporary measure and they are working to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time.

However, it is one of several temporary ED closures at the Cold Lake facility in this year alone.

Nursing staff will remain on-site in the ED providing triage and assessments, and referrals for patients to alternate EDs in surrounding communities as needed, AHS said.

Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. EMS will remain available to the community and will be re-routed to surrounding healthcare centres to ensure local residents continue to have access to the emergency services they need, the release said.

Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.

“We are thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff and would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding during this time,” AHS said.