Edson Healthcare Centre pauses surgical services this weekend

Interruption needed to complete construction of second operating room

EDSON — Edson Healthcare Centre is pausing surgical services for two days, including C-sections, due to construction required to open a second operating room at the facility.

Surgical services will not be available from Saturday, Nov. 20, at 7 a.m. to Monday, Nov. 22, at noon. No surgeries or C-sections were previously booked during this time.

This situation will not impact any other care services offered at the healthcare centre. All maternity patients are still encouraged to present to the Edson hospital where a maternity-trained physician can provide medical assessment and develop a care plan with their patients as required.

The emergency department will remain open but there will be mitigation measures in place to ensure the safety of all patients.

To reduce the number of people in the space, designated support persons will be restricted to only those who need to be accompanied, such as minor children or adults who are no longer their own decision-makers.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) is working to ensure residents continue to have access to the care they need. Patients with higher level care needs requiring C-sections or emergency surgical services during this time will be diverted to the Hinton Healthcare Centre, 86 km away.

The Government of Alberta has invested $1.3 million in the Edson Health Care Centre to convert space into a second operating room as part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative being implemented to reduce surgical wait times for Albertans. The project is expected to be fully complete before the end of the year.

AHS apologizes for this short-term pause in service and is thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff, and the community for their patience and understanding.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.