Airdrie’s mayor is furious after Alberta Health Services announced the city’s emergency center will be closed overnight for the next eight weekends between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
AHS said the temporary closure was due to a lack of doctors available to cover shifts.
Those seeking emergency care during these hours are asked to be directed to other nearby hospitals.
Ambulances will also be rerouted.
Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown wants residents to contact elected officials.
“I want people to engage,” he said. “I want people to contact their MLAs, I want people to contact the Prime Minister’s Office, to (contact) the Department of Health, to get involved.
“This is our community,” he added, “and the more people get involved, I believe we can have some success, but it’s beyond frustrating. It is unacceptable to be told to be patient and just wait with no other explanation I would like do you know why this is happening?”
The facility already faced a temporary shutdown earlier this month, but it only lasted one weekend.
NDP health critic David Shepherd said in a statement that Airdrie’s two MLAs have done nothing to advance health care in Airdrie and have been distracted by internal party politics.
More effects of the chaos that UCP has created in our healthcare system.
People in and around Airdrie have already faced increasing waiting times at UCC. Now, three nights a week, they will have no access at all.
And that will mean even more pressure on already strained YYC ERs. #ableg https://t.co/dEJatj6Jvt
— David Shepard (@DShepYEG) July 21, 2022
“MAKES ME NERVOUS”
Airdrie is home to 80,000 people, but Mayor Brown said 150,000 from the surrounding area rely on the emergency centre.
Area residents said it was worrying not to have emergency medical services closer to home.
“Well it makes me nervous,” said one resident who spoke to CTV News, “knowing it’s a bit of a drive to begin with and knowing the ambulance resources are really stretched. It’s a bit scary and hopefully they can get him trained.”
A second person said: “Now, obviously because of the family doctor situation, we are losing even such basic services. You will have to go quite a bit further just to get emergency services. What I have to say is extremely disheartening.”
“This is our government,” said a third person. “We have to change that too. And they need to bring in more doctors and Airdrie or some of the clinics, maybe get them to work emergency at night.”
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH IS RESPONSIBLE
A statement from Health Secretary Jason Copping’s office said it was the result of more than two years of responding to the pandemic, which has left doctors and health workers exhausted.
“This is not a challenge unique to Alberta,” it said. “This pressure is being felt in Canada and North America.
“In response to increased pressure across the province, AHS is aggressively recruiting additional staff.”
The statement added that medical staff would remain in emergency centers overnight to “assess and triage” any patients who come in during the temporary closure.
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