COLD LAKE – The Cold Lake Healthcare Centre will temporarily close its emergency department due to a lack of on-site physician coverage this evening.
The temporary closure will begin at 11 p.m. tonight (June 1) until 7 a.m. on June 2.
While this is a temporary measure as result of Alberta Health Service’s inability to secure locum or permanent coverage for the emergency departments operations, it has become a semi-regular occurrence at the Cold Lake Healthcare Centre.
“AHS is working hard to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time,” states a media release by AHS, the provincial health authority.
Nursing staff will remain on-site in the emergency department to provide triage and assessments. They will also make referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments in surrounding communities as needed.
EMS will remain available to the community and will be re-routed to surrounding healthcare centres.
Residents are also reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions.
