Courtesy Town of Oyen Website

By Regan Tate

A lack of nursing staff impacting acute care and emergency department in Oyen

Jan 10, 2023 | 3:25 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A lack of nursing staff is forcing the temporary closure of 10 acute care beds in Oyen.

Current inpatients will be either discharged or transferred to another facility.

The emergency department in the town will also be temporarily closed daily from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. It will be open from 7 in the morning until 7 in the evening with nursing staff on site. A physician will be on call.

Both moves take effect on Monday, Jan. 16.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) says this is a temporary measure and work is being done to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time.

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Nursing staff will remain on-site overnight providing care for long-term care residents.

Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. EMS calls will be re-routed to another ED to ensure residents have access to the emergency services they need.

Patients seeking care during the closure in Oyen can access emergency services anytime at:

• Hanna Health Centre – 113 km away
• Coronation Hospital – 135 km away
• Provost Health Centre – 140 km away
• Brooks Health Centre – 187 km away
• Medicine Hat Regional Hospital – 196 km away

Residents can also call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency, health-related questions. Individuals requiring non-emergency medical care are also encouraged to call their family physician.

Residents are invited to an in-person community engagement session on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for an opportunity to speak with AHS representatives and learn more about these changes. This session will take place in the Assembly Room at the Oyen and District Seniors Association, 216 Second St. W., Oyen.