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Alberta Health Services reverses decision to close laboratory services in MorinvilleAnna Junker
Alberta’s health authority has reversed a decision to permanently close laboratory services in Morinville, 48 hours after the closure was announced.
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Alberta Health Services.
On Monday, Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced the laboratory and diagnostic imaging services at the Morinville Clinic will permanently close, effective Feb. 1, due to low patient volumes, challenges recruiting staff, and the lack of functioning X-ray equipment at the site.
AHS said residents could instead access these services in nearby communities, with closest locations in St. Albert, 18 kilometres away.
However, on Wednesday evening, AHS reversed the decision and said it will be maintaining laboratory services at the clinic.
“This decision has been made after feedback from the community,” AHS said in a brief statement. “There will be no disruption in service for local residents.”
The statement made no mention of the community’s X-ray machine, which has been non-functional since February 2020.
News of the lab services ending was met with heavy criticism from the community almost immediately. Within two days, an online petition calling for the government to reverse its decision received more than 4,400 signatures.
Residents said there are many seniors in the community who do not have the ability to travel for testing and that wait-times to get treatment in St. Albert were already significant.
Morinville Mayor Simon Boersma told Postmedia that closing the centre would have impacts around the region.
Following news that the government had reversed its decision, Boersma said he was “totally elated.”
“I just want to thank the government for listening to our residents, to the people of our communities. Obviously we are valued and we value the services that they provide at the same time, so I really appreciate that,” he said.
— With files from Ashley Joannou
ajunker@postmedia.com
On Monday, Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced the laboratory and diagnostic imaging services at the Morinville Clinic will permanently close, effective Feb. 1, due to low patient volumes, challenges recruiting staff, and the lack of functioning X-ray equipment at the site.
AHS said residents could instead access these services in nearby communities, with closest locations in St. Albert, 18 kilometres away.
However, on Wednesday evening, AHS reversed the decision and said it will be maintaining laboratory services at the clinic.
“This decision has been made after feedback from the community,” AHS said in a brief statement. “There will be no disruption in service for local residents.”
The statement made no mention of the community’s X-ray machine, which has been non-functional since February 2020.
News of the lab services ending was met with heavy criticism from the community almost immediately. Within two days, an online petition calling for the government to reverse its decision received more than 4,400 signatures.
Residents said there are many seniors in the community who do not have the ability to travel for testing and that wait-times to get treatment in St. Albert were already significant.
Morinville Mayor Simon Boersma told Postmedia that closing the centre would have impacts around the region.
Following news that the government had reversed its decision, Boersma said he was “totally elated.”
“I just want to thank the government for listening to our residents, to the people of our communities. Obviously we are valued and we value the services that they provide at the same time, so I really appreciate that,” he said.
— With files from Ashley Joannou
ajunker@postmedia.com
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