The temporary acute care bed reduction at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre is expected to last a little while longer.
Initially, Alberta Health Services had anticipated an end to the reduction on Aug. 10, according to the AHS online database for bed closures.
In an email, AHS said Wednesday that the reduction in Lacombe is expected to last a “couple more days, while staffing levels and recruitment efforts are reviewed.”
Currently, 11 out of 35 acute care beds aren’t being filled because of temporary staff shortages due to vacation, vacancies and ongoing recruitment.
In the emergency department at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, seven out of 46 care spaces are closed because of staffing issues and that is anticipated to be resolved by Aug. 12, according to the AHS online database. The acute care reduction at the Red Deer hospital is expected to last until Sept. 9.
In Rimbey, six acute care beds are temporarily closed due to staffing shortages, which is anticipated to end by Aug. 15. In Wetaskiwin, there are no c-sections available because of a temporary lack of physician coverage. That is also expected to end on Aug. 15.
Rocky Mountain House still has six of its acute care beds closed and that could last until Aug. 31.