December 20, 2022
McLENNAN — Alberta Health Services (AHS) is extending the temporary closure of the Emergency Department at Sacred Heart Community Health Centre, due to a lack of registered nursing staff and an inability to secure temporary coverage.
From 7 p.m. December 20 to 7 a.m. December 21, there will be no staff available in the emergency department in McLennan. Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency.
Patient safety and care remain the highest priorities for AHS. We are working hard to ensure everyone will receive the care they need through its partnership with EMS and a supportive regional network of healthcare centres.
Recruitment of nurses is a challenge across North America. It can be particularly difficult outside of urban centres. AHS has a dedicated team focused on recruitment efforts. These efforts include aggressively pursuing both Canadian and internationally trained professionals; working to support flexible roles and scope of practice within AHS; and consulting with post-graduate education programs to enable work experience in non-urban facilities.
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.
