ALBERTON, P.E.I. - A staffing shortage will result in a temporary closure of Western Hospital’s emergency services over the New Years weekend.
The hospital’s Emergency Department and Collaborative Emergency Centre will be closed for three days starting Saturday evening due to the temporary unavailability of physician and/or nursing coverage, Health P.E.I. advises.
Emergency health services will not be available at Western Hospital from 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1.
Health P.E.I. instructs anyone with urgent medical needs during that period to call 911 or to seek emergency services at the Prince County Hospital. It provided examples of urgent medical needs: experiencing discomfort or tightness in the chest; experiencing unusual shortness of breath; experiencing abdominal pain; experiencing prolonged and persistent headache or dizziness; an injury may require stitches or involve a broken bone; a child has prolonged diarrhea or vomiting; or a baby under six months of age has a fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher.
Individuals with health concerns or seeking immediate health information can call 811 to speak with an experienced registered nurse for advice on best course of action, and they can also seek non-urgent care at a walk-in clinic.
Ambulatory care appointments at Western Hospital will go ahead as scheduled.
