Expectant Parents Face Disruption at Cold Lake Health Centre

Expectant parents in Cold Lake, Alberta, are facing service disruptions at the local health centre due to a shortage of obstetricians. Alberta Health Services (AHS) confirmed that the disruption began on November 9 and is expected to last until 7 a.m. on January 5, 2026. This situation arises from an ongoing **OB/GYN** shortage and difficulties in securing locum coverage for the facility.

AHS is actively recruiting an obstetrician-gynecologist to address the gap but indicated that if coverage is secured sooner, the disruption might end earlier. “Physician coverage has been secured to mitigate the service disruption starting in January 2026,” said Logan Clow, Senior Communications Advisor for AHS. He emphasized that this kind of disruption is not common for the Cold Lake Health Centre.

During this temporary closure, AHS is working closely with families to ensure safe care options are available. Maternity patients will still receive assessments at the Cold Lake hospital, and emergency transfers will be coordinated as necessary. Clow reassured the community, stating, “Maternity patients are still encouraged to present to the Cold Lake hospital where our trained healthcare teams will provide assessment and develop a plan of care.”

For families requiring urgent C-sections or labour support, AHS has protocols in place to transfer patients to nearby healthcare facilities such as the Bonnyville Health Centre, located 53 kilometres away, and the St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre, which is 121 kilometres from Cold Lake. Clow reminded the public to call 911 for any medical emergencies, ensuring that emergency medical services (EMS) are ready to facilitate patient transfers.

As the disruption continues, AHS has reached out to expectant mothers to discuss alternate birth and care options during this period. Clow acknowledged the additional stress this may place on families. “We are working to ensure all expecting mothers have the support they need, including having a plan in place for where they will safely deliver their babies during this time,” he said. He also apologized for any distress caused, adding, “The health and safety of Albertans remains our top priority, and we are committed to supporting women’s health and ensuring necessary care is available in Cold Lake.”

Recruitment challenges in rural areas are not unique to AHS. Clow noted that these issues are prevalent across Alberta and internationally. AHS is implementing several short- and long-term strategies to enhance staffing levels, including targeted recruitment campaigns for rural positions, direct outreach to medical professionals, participation in career fairs, and collaboration with the Rural Health Professional Action Plan (RhPAP).

To help improve recruitment, AHS has launched a rural-care page on its careers site, detailing efforts to attract candidates through professional networks and promoting rural retention. They are also engaging with both graduate and undergraduate medical students to encourage them to consider rural healthcare careers.

Last year, the Cold Lake Healthcare Centre delivered 174 babies, with 23 deliveries expected between October and December of this year. Clow expressed gratitude for the support from surrounding healthcare centres and the local community during this challenging time. “We are thankful for the support of surrounding healthcare centres and medical staff and would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding during this time. We will continue to keep the community updated,” he stated.