The emergency department at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre will close beginning at 4 p.m. today to allow physicians and staff to treat and discharge all remaining patients in the department. New patients will not be admitted into the department after this time.
This is a temporary measure taken as a last resort. Alberta Health Services is working hard to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time, and to keep all other services at the site operating as normal. Inpatient units are not impacted by this closure.
Patients presenting to the site seeking ED services will be referred to emergency departments in surrounding communities as needed, or to the local medical clinic for follow up with a family physician depending on their needs.
Patients requiring emergency medical care during this time are asked to call 911. EMS calls will be re-routed to surrounding facilities, including the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre, Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre and Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
Residents are reminded to call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7, for non-emergency, health-related questions.