Article Author:
Canadian Press
Jordan Hommed
Toronto — Due to the recent temporary closure of two Ontario emergency rooms and the integration of staff in another emergency room Concerns about the shortage of health care workers have renewed. Doctors and nurses are calling on the government to tackle the problem.
The Clinton, Ontario hospital temporarily closed the emergency department from Saturday to Monday, and the Kingston, Ontario hospital has a weekend emergency center time to consolidate ER staff. It has been shortened. Lack of doctors and nurses for mobility.
In Perth, Ontario, the local site of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital closed its emergency room on Saturday. Stretched thin ones compete with the outbreak of COVID-19.
"This is unprecedented for our community," said Dr. Alan Drammond, an emergency physician at Perth Hospital, in an interview.
"This perfect storm is falling on us. This is increasing the number of sick patients whose corresponding resources are declining."
Perth Hospital So, in the last few months, the number of nurses in the emergency room has dropped from 15 to 5, said Drammond, co-chair of the Canadian Emergency Medical Association's public affairs.
He said Perth ER was temporarily forced to shut down when two nurses were recently infected with COVID-19. Managers said last week that the hospital was in a "staffing crisis."
Ontario is at the forefront of the pandemic, after more than two years of harsh years, the medical workforce as workers quit their hospital roles or profession altogether. Suffering from a shortage of State public hospital.
"The shortage of staff is due to burnout and the withdrawal of people," said Catherine Hui, President of the Ontario Nurses Association.
"But they burn out because they come in with an 8-hour or 12-hour shift and stay for 16 hours. Sometimes they stay for 24 hours."
Hoy is treated in an emergency room with a temporary nurse to cover 30 patients, a hospital with dozens of unfilled ER positions, and a corridor. He said he heard from the nurse who reported the patient.
"Nurses can't be anywhere," she said.
The Nurses Union has expanded its fast-track program to help registered specialist nurses become registered nurses, waiting for internationally trained nurses to obtain a license. Mr Hui said he wants the government to save time.
The Ontario Hospital Association has seen an increase in the number of patients waiting for home care, an increase in the number of patients in acute care beds, and a backlog for the entire hospital system due to staff shortages and capacity issues. Said it was happening. You need those resources.
The labor shortage is most pronounced in the critical care sector, with the rural and northern parts of Ontario taking the brunt.
"The situation in these communities remains vulnerable," OHA President and CEO Anthony Dale said in writing.
According to data compiled by the Canadian Institute of Health Information, Ontario had 609 registered nurses per 100,000 inhabitants in 2020. This was significantly lower than the statistics for Alberta and Quebec.
Meanwhile, according to OHA, patients spend their time in the emergency room for the first time in 14 years, excluding January this year. The ambulance unloading time (the time it takes for the hospital to take over the patient from emergency medical care) is the highest in 12 years.
The Ontario Medical Association said the government should consider establishing a specialized center focused on specific surgery and procedures to reduce the burden on hospitals.
"We know that healthcare does not run in the election cycle," said former president Dr. Samantha Hill, who spoke on behalf of the association. “We need to work on more advanced system design and more advanced healthcare design.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health of Ontario has nurses in the target areas throughout the state. He said he is working to strengthen the workforce, including lump sum retention bonuses and funding to hire.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 5, 2022.
