The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees president says the sudden resignation of three psychiatrists at the Royal Alexandra Hospital has caused the hospital to close as many as ten crisis beds and open a temporary unit in the emergency department.
AUPE president Guy Smith says the union is aware of the situation but has been given little information about the bed closures. He says the changes are expected to take place March 31st.
Smith believes all of the beds in the Royal Alex crisis unit for mental health patients are closing for at least six months, with six beds being set up in the emergency department to offset the closure.
The union says they've learned the unit is being closed because of three psychiatrists who quit on short notice. Smith says without the staff the unit wouldn't have been able to operate.
CTV News' calls to Alberta Health Services were not returned.
