Oyen emergency department returns to 24-hour service

Southern Alberta Newspapers

The Oyen Big Country Hospital emergency department has returned to 24-hour service, nearly three months after staffing shortages forced a temporary reduction in hours.

Alberta Health Services announced the ED, which has been operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily since Jan. 16, would reopen for 24-hour service on April 7, thanks to the procurement of additional nursing staff.

AHS also announced the reopening of five of the facility’s 10 acute care beds, which have also been closed since Jan. 16.

Recruitment efforts continue to fill additional vacant staff positions at the facility.