Toronto — Temporary closure of two recentOntario emergency roomsand integration of another staff raises concerns about a shortage of state health care workers Doctors and nurses are calling. The government working on the problem.
The Clinton, Ontario hospital temporarily closed the emergency department from Saturday to Monday, while the Kingston, Ontario hospital shortened emergency care center hours over the weekend, ER Integrated staff. Both facilities citing a shortage of doctors and nurses for mobility.
In Perth, Ontario, a local site at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital closed its emergency room on Saturday and plans to close it until Thursday to combat the outbreak of already lean staff. rice field. Of COVID-19.
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"This is unprecedented for our community," said Alan Drammond, an emergency physician at Perth Hospital. He said 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."
According to the organization representing nurses, doctors and public hospitals in Ontario, Ontario has been at the forefront of the pandemic after more than two years of harsh years, with workers in the role of hospitals or I am suffering from a shortage of medical labor because I am completely quitting my profession.
"The shortage of staff is due to burnout and the withdrawal of people," said Catherine Hui, President of the Ontario Nurses Association.
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Hui is temporarily to cover 30 patients. He said he heard from a nurse who reported an emergency room where one nurse was stationed. The location of the unfilled ER and the number of patients being cared for in the corridor.
"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.
Labor shortages are most prominent in the critical care sector, the association says, with rural and northern Ontarios taking the brunt.
"The situation in these communities remains vulnerable," OHA President and CEO Anthony Dale said in writing.
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In Ontario According to data compiled by the Canadian Institute of Health Information, which had 609 registrants, nurses per 100,000 residents in 2020. This was significantly lower than the statistics for Alberta and Quebec.
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Meanwhile, according to OHA, patients spend their first time in the emergency room in 14 years, excluding January this year. Is the height of. 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 is not carried out in the election cycle," said former president Dr. Samantha Hill, who spoke on behalf of the association. "Need. We are committed to more advanced system design and more advanced healthcare design."
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health of Ontario hires nurses in the target areas throughout the state. He said he is working to strengthen the workforce, including lump sum retention bonuses and funds to help.
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