By Healthcare Facilities Today

Sewage system problems may close the Wainwright Health Centre in Wainwright, Alberta, Canada, according to an article on the Edmunton Journal.

“The sewage system has been of significant concern and has undergone recent repairs,” according to Alberta Health Services (AHS). “Further issues with the sewage system will potentially result in complete closure of the facility and loss of acute, long-term and community care services for this community."

AHS said that $145,000 has been spent on urgent facility upgrades at the Wainwright center in the last three years, including fixes to the sewer lines in the ambulance bay and laundry area. Another $5.1 million will be spent over the next three years, the article said.

The Wainwright center was built in 1972 and serves a town of about 6,300 people, plus the surrounding region.

Wainwright Mayor Brian Bethune said the province indicated two years ago that a replacement hospital project would be coming, but funding has yet to materialize.

“It’s quite urgent because we are trying to get doctors to stay here, and a lot of the doctors leave because it’s a crappy hospital,” Bethune said in the article.

Read the article.