Alberta health Services officials on stage at the meeting regarding the Big Country Hospital closures on Jan. 12, 2023. (Screengrab From Oyen Echo video)

By Chris Brown

Healthcare

AHS apologizes for mistakes of the past as Oyen hospital closures loom

Jan 13, 2023 | 6:03 PM

OYEN, AB – Alberta Health Services officials apologized to Oyen and area residents on Thursday for poor management of the past that led to a nurse shortage at Big Country Hospital and has resulted in a significant reduction in services starting on Monday.

“The feedback we received was definitely received on our end,” says the interim senior operating officer, public & primary health, CDM (Chronic Disease Management) & rural east.

“Acknowledged the challenges that have occurred and some of the tough times the community has experienced and really on the go forward, the opportunity and commitment on our side to work with the community and community leaders to establish communication lines and ensure that we have their feedback and listen to it and work with them to develop solutions.”

Area residents packed the Royal Canadian Legion in Oyen days after AHS announced that due to a shortage of nurses, the emergency department at Big Country Hospital will temporarily be closed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily and the acute care beds will also be temporarily closed starting Monday.

There are currently five part-time RN vacancies and one full-time LPN vacancy between those departments.

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While the Big Country emergency department is closed people will have to seek emergency care at other facilities, the closest of which is 113 km away in Hanna.

Inaba says AHS is actively recruiting, re-engaging with former staff and contacting temporary agency nurses to keep the closures in Oyen as short as possible.

Registered nurse Kathy Hoffman worked at the hospital for 36 years before retiring last summer and at the meeting told AHS officials poor management over the past 10 years led to the current staffing shortfall.

She says many in the community are scared about the closures because of the long distances people will have to go for help at other facilities

“I think everybody’s very, very scared. And the one question that was asked last night that I felt they didn’t answer was someone asked, are these other hospitals where we’re supposed to go ready for us?” Hoffman told CHAT News on Friday. “Because I think everybody recognizes there’s a nursing shortage worldwide. It’s not just here. So we’re just adding to other small towns’ clients I guess, right, adding numbers for them to deal with and they don’t have enough staff either.”

She adds that AHS has a huge job ahead of them to find staff and regain the trust of the community.

“I don’t know where they’re going to find people. I would hope that the people that left during all the mayhem would come back but I can’t guarantee that.”

Inaba says recruiting is front and centre for AHS. Anyone interested is encouraged to visit careers.albertahealthservices.ca.