BONNYVILLE – A reduction of five acute care beds at the Bonnyville Health Centre is slated to take effect Nov. 28.
The temporary bed closures are related to staffing shortages at the Bonnyville hospital, according to Covenant Health.
The closures are anticipated to last until Jan. 9, 2023, but the status of the closures will be evaluated weekly, states the health care provider.
The temporary acute bed closures will affect the Bonnyville centre’s overall in-patient capacity.
“We anticipate this reduction may impact patient flow and wait times throughout the facility,” stated Covenant Health.
Bonnyville Health Centre’s other service areas, such as obstetrics, surgical and the emergency department, will remain open.
“We would like to thank the community for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause as we navigate this extended staffing shortage,” said Shelly Franklin, the site administrator for the Bonnyville Health Centre.
Franklin acknowledged that the temporary reduction of acute care beds will cause some concern for local residents.
“We ask that you are patient with our staff during this challenging time,” she continued.
