Emergency medical service at the Souris Health Centre may resume at the end of January, officials say. (ARHA)

A doctor shortage has forced a rural western Manitoba emergency room to close indefinitely, meaning area residents needing urgent treatment must travel to get it.

Officials with the Assiniboine Regional Heath Authority said Tuesday two of the three regular ER doctors at the Souris Health Centre are on leave.

With only one doctor available, officials chose to suspend ER service.

"It's always concerning … we would ideally like to be able to have the service continue," said Penny Gilson, the head of the health authority.

"But from a patient safety perspective you can't do that if you don't have the right providers to provide the necessary care," she said.

Patients in the area who need emergency care are being taken to hospital in Brandon, a drive of about 50 kilometres northeast from Souris.

Gilson said a plan to bring in replacement doctors on a temporary basis fell through at the last minute.

The ER may reopen at the end of January when one of the two doctors on leave returns and a new doctor arrives.

With files from the CBC's Brady Strachan