Update from Alberta Health Services (AHS):
“SWAN HILLS – The Swan Hills Healthcare Centre (SHHC) will resume normal operations on Monday, August 29.
Staffing levels have now stabilized, allowing SHHC to return to 24-hour Emergency Department services and open all four acute care inpatient beds, as well as both Designated Supportive Living beds. Referrals to the medical detox program will also resume on August 29, with admissions beginning on August 31.
Emergency Department (ED) hours at SHHC were reduced to 12 hours a day and six of eight acute care beds were temporarily closed starting on June 9, 2022 due to gaps in nursing coverage. The ED operated from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily during this period.
These temporary measure were taken as a last resort to support patient and staff safety.
AHS would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding during this time when hours were modified and beds were closed. AHS is thankful for the support of EMS, surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff that helped ensure those who needed care continued to have access to it, even if it required receiving that care in a neighbouring community.”