Melville’s St. Peter’s Hospital is temporarily shutting down 10 of its 30 beds.

Vice-President of Integrated Rural Health with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Karen Earnshaw says in a statement affected SHA staff, management and union partners were notified of the bed closures in July.

She said it was done as a result of staffing schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff moving to other positions within the Health Authority and recruiting to vacant positions.

Earnshaw says recruiting efforts have gone well but successful applicants won’t be fully orientated until September.

The hospital is expected to return to normal operating capacity by September 8.

{CJGX}