Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital closes labour and delivery unit temporarily

The Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital will be temporarily closing down its labour and delivery unit on Sunday (Dec. 18). 

According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), the reason is staff shortage and a lack of shift coverage.

"Women’s health services are expected to resume at 7 a.m. on Dec. 29," AHS said in a statement.

Pregnant women who were planning to deliver at the hospital will now have to adjust their birth plan to deliver at the Sturgeon Community Hospital.

Plans are in place to help any labouring patient get to the Sturgeon if needed.

This isn't the first time the labour and delivery unit has shut down in Fort Saskatchewan. It closed multiple times this year.