Emergency department in Roblin, Man., to shut down until further notice starting Sept. 4

The emergency department at the Roblin District Health Centre will be closed until further notice starting next Friday, Manitoba Shared Health and thePrairie Mountain Healthannounced in a news release.

Recent retirements, maternity leaves and staff departures created astaffing shortage for diagnostic servicesin the Roblin area andprompted the shutdown, which takes effect at 4 p.m. on Sept. 4.

"Discussions with medical leadership in the region have identified the risk associated with continuing to operate an emergency department without urgent access todiagnostic services," Penny Gilson, CEO of the Prairie Mountain Health, said in the release.

"Weacknowledge the community has concerns about this impact on local service and thathas been reflected in the number of emails and phone calls we have already received.However, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily direct community members in need of urgent care to other facilities in the area."

Some diagnosticservices, including x-ray services, are being relocated at the Russell Health Centre for the time being, the release said.

Community members are askedto call 911 in an emergency or to visitto the emergency departmentin Russell or Grandview each of which is about a 30-minute drive from Roblin for care.

Two diagnostic services workersfrom Roblin and Shoal Lake health centres are being temporarily relocatedto Russell to support services for the broader geographic area, the release said.

Friday's announcement comes days afterRoblin town councillors were told that all the lab technicians will be sent 50 kilometres south to Russell because there is a shortage of staff there.

Many community members are concerned because it means there is no acute care in Roblin, and now they may have to fight to keep their doctors from leaving the area.

Emergency Response Services are aware of the planned changes and have systems in place to ensure timely access to emergency care continues in Roblinand its surrounding areas, the release said.

A number of clinical services will continue to be operational at the Roblin District Health Centre, including in-patient care. Diagnostic services such as ultrasounds, ECG exams and lab sample collection, including blood samples,are also available, the release said.

Hoursof operation in Roblin will be 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

The health region has already begun recruiting people to fillthe vacant positions,and service levels will be re-evaluated as positions arefilled, the release said.

Further to the interruption of service, the Shoal Lake/Strathclair Health Centre will provide lab sample collection and ECG exams one day per week, starting the week of Sept. 7.

Hours of operation start Sept. 8 the day after Labour Day Mondayfrom 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Those hours will move to Mondays starting on Sept. 14, though, the release said.

Patients requiring x-rays in Shoal Lake will be redirected tothe Hamiota District Health Centre, it added.

Residents canexpress their concerns by emailing Manitoba Shared Health atinfo@sharedhealthmb.ca.