August 22, 2023
SWAN HILLS – The Swan Hills Healthcare Centre will resume 24/7 Emergency Department operations on Tuesday, August 22 at 6:00 p.m.
Physician coverage will resume and staffing levels have now stabilized, allowing the Swan Hills Healthcare Centre to return to 24-hour Emergency Department services.
The emergency department will remain open and available to area residents in need of urgent care 24/7.
The previous Public Service Announcement issued August 17 stating that the Swan Hills Healthcare Centre ED would be temporarily without on-site physician coverage until August 29 is now being rescinded.
Admissions to the acute care and withdrawal management beds will resume August 23, 2023, at 7:00 a.m.
Emergency Department hours at the Swan Hills Healthcare Centre were temporarily reduced to 12 hours a day starting on June 22, 2023, due to gaps in nursing coverage, with the ED operating from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily during this period. Inpatient admissions, with the exception of two designated supportive living beds that could be opened if required, were also paused.
These temporary measures were taken as a last resort to support patient and staff safety.
AHS would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding during this time when hours were modified.
AHS is thankful for the support of EMS, surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff that helped ensure those who needed care continued to have access to it, even if it required receiving that care in a neighbouring community.
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.
