(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

staff shortage

Emergency room treatment spaces temporarily close at Red Deer Regional Hospital

Jul 23, 2021 | 3:11 PM

Seven treatment spaces in the emergency department at Red Deer Regional Hospital are temporarily closing.

Alberta Health Services said Friday afternoon that the closures are the result of a staffing shortage.

“The ED continues to be open and operational. Patients in need of emergency care will continue to receive it,” a statement says. “We continue to have 49 spaces open for patients who need. This includes space in the Minor Treatment Area of the department to support those with less urgent needs like suturing of minor wounds, IV therapy and orthopedic related care from 7:30 a.m to 11:30 p.m.”

AHS says it working to resolve these staffing challenges as quickly as possible, including by hiring additional staff.

Six of 19 positions posted since June 15 have been filled, with staff currently in orientation. They will be working independently in the ED by mid-August.

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact through staff redeployment and a depletion of the available pool of casual staff, which is being seen across Canada,” AHS adds. “As well, with frontline staff working extremely hard through the course of the pandemic, staff are taking well-deserved vacation time and we thank them for their incredible efforts through the waves of the pandemic to date.”

AHS notes it is common, especially during the summer, for resources to be adjusted due to healthcare workers taking personal or vacation time.

“We will continue to support our staff, and work with them, through challenging times such as this to ensure safe care for patients and safe and healthy working conditions for staff.”

This revelation comes mere hours after Deb Gordon, AHS Vice President and COO, told media in Edmonton that rumours about an acute care bed shortage are overblown.

“Currently, 98.5% of all AHS provincial acute care beds are open and available for patients,” said Gordon. “In the summertime, it’s common that staffing levels are lower as our healthcare workers take well-deserved personal time or vacation.”

Gordon said there are more individuals employed right now than ever before due to the pandemic and how it’s changed the world of health.

She was also questioned about the belief that people are being turned away from hospitals because AHS is overrun with patients, but Gordon claimed this too to be inaccurate.

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