Alberta Health Services confirmed in an email to CBC News that because it was not possible to secure medical coverage, patients in need of emergency surgery would be sent to one of the other three adult hospitals in the city from 5 p.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday. “There are no scheduled adjournments at Rockyview General Hospital and no impact on scheduled voluntary surgeries,” AHS spokeswoman Kerry Williamson said in an email. “For a 15-hour period beginning at 5pm on June 14, there will be no additional general surgery coverage on Rockyview to support emergency surgery.” Williamson said a general surgery staff surgeon will be on standby and available to provide emergency advice and assessment at Rockyview during this time. “This is not unusual,” he said. “It is routine for patients to be referred to specific hospitals depending on the specific needs and resources available.” Alberta hospitals have come under increasing pressure in recent months. Alberta’s NDP describes the situation as “unacceptable”. “This hospital is essential for emergency care in Calgary. People in need of urgent surgery need immediate intensive care. Every moment counts. They should not have to travel to a different hospital across the city,” said the NDP health critic. , David Shepard. in a press release on Tuesday afternoon. “This will also put more pressure on other hospitals in the city that are already struggling to meet the needs of the Albertans as a result of UCP mismanagement of health care. Hospitals in Calgary are already in greater demand with surgeries being diverted from Red Deer.” “ Red Deer Regional Hospital, which serves nearly half a million people in Central Alberta, has undergone general surgical diversion since April 29. According to the AHS, by 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 period, 233 general surgeries – both emergency and scheduled – were completed at the facility.
