Rural Alberta mayor praying for no major incidents following long weekend ER department closure

A city southeast of Edmonton will probably be with out an ER physician this weekend as a result of the emergency room is closed.

The shortage of essential medical providers is inflicting concern together with the hope that no emergencies come up.

“We’re praying. We’re trusting that we gained’t have any main incidents over the weekend,” Killam Mayor Ben Kellert mentioned Saturday.

Killam residents obtained a Covenant Well being discover through social media Friday.

It states the emergency division on the Killam Well being Care Centre will probably be closed for the weekend as a result of there aren’t any docs out there.

“Our docs are stretched like all docs in city centres,” Kellert mentioned.

Covenant Well being mentioned the ER will probably be closed till Tuesday at 8 a.m., including that the transfer is momentary.

Dr. Paul Parks, president of emergency medication with the Alberta Medical Affiliation, mentioned that is no shock.

“It’s very robust for the communities, and that type of crucial scarcity in our rural communities is occurring increasingly throughout Alberta,” Parks mentioned.

Sufferers requiring emergency care should journey to Daysland or Viking.

“If somebody has to journey an additional half hour or longer to go to the following hospital so as to search quick emergency intervention, it may very well be life- or limb-threatening, for positive,” Parks mentioned.

Kellert referred to as the scenario unlucky and an indication of how the health-care system is struggling proper now.

“With the pandemic raging, we’re simply having much more fatigue, and we’re having much more sickness and brief protection the place principally docs have been working further to cowl for sicknesses,” Parks mentioned.

Parks believes the damaged relationship with the Alberta authorities in addition to recruitment and retention are additionally elements resulting in shortages.

Whereas Kellert is worried, he’s urging folks to be affected person and understanding of what medical professionals are going by.

“In the event that they don’t maintain themselves, they gained’t be taking good care of us,” Kellert mentioned.

Alberta Well being Companies is itemizing two different rural communities with out ER service this weekend; Milk River is anticipated to open its ER once more Tuesday whereas Hardisty may very well be closed till November or longer.