ELK POINT - Elk Point Healthcare Centre’s Emergency Room’s closure from Monday until Friday was extended until at least Saturday at 8 a.m., that message coming late Thursday afternoon, as Alberta Health Services (AHS) scrambled to find locum coverage.
Finding that coverage is “tough to do,” Mayor Parrish Tung told Lakeland This Week after receiving a call from AHS. “Dr. Fasola is on holidays and unfortunately, Dr. Ebisike is sick,” he noted, which caused the closure.
Other recent closures have also resulted from the inability to find locum coverage.
“We thank AHS for doing everything possible to solve this issue. We hope that the situation will improve in the near future,” the mayor said, adding, “Our doctors and the Town are actively trying to bring another doctor to our community.”
According to AHS, patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency.
"EMS will remain available to the community and will work with the local healthcare centre to ensure residents continue to have access to the emergency services they need," reads information from AHS.
