AHS postpones additional elective surgeries in Edmonton Zone

EDMONTON (CityNews) – Alberta Health Services says it will be postponing additional scheduled elective surgeries and outpatient procedures in the Edmonton Zone as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the province.

Recap:

AHS postponed 50% of scheduled surgeries on Sept 3.

This week, that was bumped up to 70%, including postponing all day surgeries and providing only priority cancer, urgent and emergent surgeries.

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) September 13, 2021

On Sept. 3, AHS announced that 50 per cent of procedures would be postponed, but this week, that number will increase to 70 per cent.

Priority will be placed on cancer, urgent, and emergency surgeries.

AHS says this is in an effort to free up space for need critical care supports and also to redeploy frontline staff to areas where they are needed most.

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• AHS delays all scheduled elective surgeries, many outpatient procedures in the Calgary Zone

There are currently 126 ICU beds in Edmonton, with 82 in use by COVID-19 patients. This includes 72 ICU funded beds, and 54 ICU surge beds.

AHS is also pleading for people to do their part, and urges them to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.

People who have been affected by the changes will be contacted by AHS.