The Community
Press Telling Your Story
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Volume 114, Issue 41
$1 Including GST
AHS announces Galahad Care Centre re-opening this month Efforts ongoing to re-open Hardisty Emergency Department Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely visited with Flagstaff County Council during their regular meeting on April 13, where she shared news that the Galahad Care Centre will reopen this month. Lovely shared a letter received from AHS Chief Zone Officer Janice Steward and Senior Operating Officer, Seniors Health, Lori Sparrow, dated the day before. Galahad Care Centre will be reopening 15 designated supportive living level 4 (SL4) beds. “Our teams have worked diligently towards reopening, and
have been successful with recruitment efforts. “That, combined with a reduction of COVID-19 cases and associated healthcare system pressures have provided the resources needed to safely resume services.” AHS says staff from the Centre who were redeployed to other health care centres, including Hardisty, will be returning to Galahad shortly for re-orientation, with residents to begin moving in the week following. “All residents who want to return to the Galahad Care Centre will be supported in doing so, including those who require Long Term Care.
“Anyone wishing to remain in their alternative location, or to move into a Long Term Care space in another facility will also be supported in doing so.” According to AHS, DSL4 care, the new designation for Galahad, is provided by Health Care Aides onsite 24 hours per day, with professional nursing care available onsite by an Licence Practical Nurse 24 hours per day. With regards to the relocated staff, AHS says, “This will not have an impact on current operations at the Hardisty Health Centre. “The different levels of care provided at the sites requires different staffing mixes, and
staff can return to Galahad without compromising Hardisty. “AHS continues to work diligently towards reopening the emergency department at the Hardisty Health Centre. With remaining RN supports dedicated to maintaining the LTC services, additional RNs are necessary to support the emergency department resuming operation. “Unfortunately, significant RN vacancies continue to persist despite ongoing recruitment efforts. “We know the community is anxious for emergency care services to resume and AHS remains committed to ensuring
this occurs. “AHS is continuing with a number of talent attraction strategies in Hardisty including utilizing our rural talent pipeline supported with a candidate management system, local community spotlights, outreach to post-secondary partners, and supporting RN staff who wish to return to the facility to do so. “We are also continuing to work collaboratively with partners such as RhPAP and the Flagstaff Community Health Services Working Group to attract new staff to the area. “The support and involvement of such community partners is much appreciated.”
Poor weather delays start of spring
Scattered flurries with some accumulation on Good Friday, April 15, may have been welcome moisture for the region, but most would agree, including the geese, that April rain showers would have been much preferred! Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Intermittent snow showers and below-zero temperatures over the long weekend of Easter sure didn’t make it feel much like spring, especially to geese
returning to ponds still covered with ice and snow. Environment Canada is forecasting more of the same, with temperatures hovering around zero until later in the week when they start approaching daytime highs of +10 and +12, close to aver-
age. The forecast also calls for more snow in the region, ranging from 5-10 cm, depending on which forecast one consults. The Weather Network reported on Monday, April 18, that significant snow totals were possible in Central Alberta,
with western parts of the province seeing the most moisture, along with gusty winds. The Weather Network also reports that “Some parts of the region may approach their monthly normal snowfall in just the next 48 hours.”