Patients in need of emergency surgery are being diverted from Calgary Rockyview General Hospital Tuesday night due to staff shortages.
Alberta Health Services confirmed in an email to CBC News that because medical coverage could not be secured, patients in need of emergency surgery will be referred to one of the city’s other three adult hospitals, including 5 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“There are no planned postponements of surgery at Rockyview General Hospital and no impact on scheduled elective surgeries,” AHS spokesman Kerry Williamson said in an emailed statement.
“For a period of 15 hours from 5 pm on June 14, there will be no additional general surgical coverage at Rockyview to support emergency surgeries.”
Williamson said a general surgery staff surgeon would be on duty and available to provide emergency advice and assessment to Rockyview during this time.
“That’s not uncommon,” he said.
“It is common for patients to be diverted to specific hospitals based on specific needs and available resources.”
Alberta hospitals have been under increasing stress in recent months. Alberta’s NPD calls the situation “unacceptable.”
“This hospital is essential for emergency care in Calgary. People who need emergency surgery require immediate critical care. Every moment counts. They shouldn’t be forced to travel to a different hospital in the city.” NDP health critic David Shepherd said in a press release Tuesday evening.
“This will also put more pressure on other hospitals in the city that are already struggling to meet the needs of Albertans as a result of the mismanagement of health care by the PCU. Calgary hospitals are already facing greater demand with Red Deer deviant surgeries “.
The Red Deer Regional Hospital, which serves nearly half a million people in downtown Alberta, has had a general surgical referral underway since April 29.
According to the AHS, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, a total of 111 cases of general surgery had been diverted from Red Deer Regional Hospital.
Williamson said that during the same time period, 233 general surgeries, both urgent and scheduled, had been completed at the facility.