No overnight physician at Cold Lake ED tonight or Tuesday: AHS

Once again, the Cold Lake hospital will be without overnight physician coverage at emergency Monday and Tuesday nights.

AHS released a statement Monday afternoon explaining the Cold Lake Healthcare Centre Emergency Department (ED) will be temporarily without on-site physician coverage from 11p.m. on Monday night to 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning. 

The same goes on Tuesday overnight to Wednesday with those same hours.

There has been a dozen AHS notices since January 1 that there will be no overnight coverage in the Cold Lake emergency of at least one night.

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

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.

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.

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