The Battlefords Union Hospital has changed the way the public will access the facility late at night.
Previously, public would use the main entrance between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., and enter through the ambulance bay doors at all other times.
The BUH is changing their policy, closing the ambulance bays to the public and allowing them in through the main entrance at all hours. The change is taking effect as of tomorrow, Aug. 1.
According to a Prairie North Health Region press release, unless patients are brought to the hospital by ambulance, they will always come through the main front doors. Access to the ambulance bay will be restricted at all times to emergency vehicles only.
The change is being done in part to improve access, flow, efficiency, privacy and security for all patients and staff using the emergency department, the release states.
Signage at the front of the hospital is being improved to help guide patients and visitors to the 24-hour main entrance. Further improvements to the entranceway will be made in the months ahead, and will be communicated to the public.
Renovations are underway in the emergency department to support access to supplies. Further improvements will be occurring over the weeks and months ahead to implement 24-hour access to admitting/registration service for emergency patients right in the emergency department; improve the general patient and family waiting area; provide greater privacy for patients, families, and health care providers, and ensure a safer care and work environment for patients and health professionals.
