ST. PAUL - Surgical services are now on pause at the hospital in St. Paul, due to what Alberta Health Services (AHS) says is a lack of anesthetist coverage.
On Tuesday, AHS sent out a public service announcement, stating the "St. Therese-St. Paul Healthcare Centre is temporarily pausing surgical services, including C-sections, effective immediately."
Anesthetist coverage is expected to resume on Jan. 4.
"To ensure the safety of all patients, obstetrical services will be limited to low-risk patients during this time due to the lack of anesthetist capability," says AHS.
The Cold Lake hospital is also experiencing a disruption in surgical services, as reported by Lakeland Today earlier this month.
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MLA David Hanson has also voiced frustration about what is being referred to as staff shortage, resulting in health care services being disrupted across the Lakeland.
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AHS says it is working to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need.
"This includes working with nearby sites in surrounding communities to provide care for patients with higher-level care needs requiring C-sections or surgical services," reads the public service announcement.
"Patient safety is of utmost importance to us and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."
AHS says it is "thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff, and the community for their patience and understanding."
Bonnyville hospital and bed closures
One healthcare centre that may see the ripple effects of the St. Paul’s suspension of surgical services is the Bonnyville Hospital.
In response to an inquiry of staffing resources at the Bonnyville Healthcare Centre, Covenant Health confirmed that the hospital has two bed closures as of this week.
As of Dec. 21, “The hospital staffing rate is over 97 per cent, with no disruptions to service,” said Karen Diaper, Covenant Health’s communications manager, in a statement.
“These numbers fluctuate constantly with ongoing recruitment practices throughout the facility,” wrote Diaper on behalf of Covenant Health, adding, “The Bonnyville Hospital continues to maintain operations while supporting the healthcare needs of the community and region.”
Currently, the Bonnyville Hospital has vacancies in the areas of nurse practitioners, RNs and lab and imaging technicians.
“Alberta Precision Laboratories oversees the Bonnyville Hospital Laboratories and provides high quality lab service around the clock, while actively recruiting to fill vacant positions," added Diaper.
*Story updated to reflect Bonnyville Healthcare Centre information
