Island Health reducing services due to Omicron staffing challenges
Island Health says it is adjusting its service levels due to staffing shortages that have been largely caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Some of the changes include diverting ambulances to less busy hospitals, redeploying ambulatory and surgical staff to areas with critical demand, and continuing to suspended non-urgent surgeries at Island Health's three largest sites: Victoria General Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital, and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Elective surgeries have been postponed until the end of the month, with other hospitals restarting non-urgent surgeries where staffing levels allow.
"The reduction of inpatient surgical services has reduced demand on inpatient beds and staffing requirements," said Island Health in a release Tuesday.
STAFF-TO-PATIENT RATIO
In order to reduce demand on staff at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, Island Health recently diverted ambulances from the facility's emergency department over five days "to have fewer inpatients to ensure a manageable staff-to-patient ratio."
Ongoing ambulance diversions are in place on the North Island, with ambulances being diverted away from emergency departments at Port Hardy Hospital and Port McNeill Hospital, depending on staffing levels at each site.
"Staffing levels are being adjusted on a day-to-day and shift-by-shift basis, and in advance whenever possible, to balance risk and help utilize human resources most efficiently across the system," said Island Health.
The health authority cites its psychiatric emergency services (PES) as an example of ongoing service changes.
On a shift-by-shift basis, PES may not accept new admissions and instead direct them to emergency departments. Current patients may also be moved to the ER for care during this time.
"These are not actions we want to take, and we don’t take them lightly knowing the impact they have on those we serve," said Kathy MacNeil, Island Health president and CEO, in a statement Tuesday.
LONG-TERM CARE
Island Health says it is monitoring staffing levels at long-term care sites on a daily basis.
The health authority notes that it has "contingency plans" to ensure continuity of care at the care homes, such as moving staff between facilities, or rescheduling activities and services.
With staffing levels impacted across the health-care system, Island Health says it has added "leadership supports" to offer guidance during weekend, evening, and on-call hours.
The supports will help facilities "make decisions to support safe patient care during this challenging time."
The health authority notes that it has temporarily closed its outpatient lab at 1505 Admirals Rd. and is asking clients to visit Victoria General Hospital for service instead. The closure is in place from Jan. 17 until April 1.
Service hours have also been reduced at the Sidney outpatient lab located at 2357 James White Blvd. to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. The facility is also temporarily closed on Saturdays until further notice.
Island Health says that outpatient lab services have restarted at Saanich Peninsula Hospital on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"We are grateful to the residents of the communities of Vancouver Island for their understanding and continued support of our health care teams during this challenging time," said MacNeil.
"We also acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our teams who continue to work tireless to ensure patients receive the highest quality care possible despite these challenges."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Police in Paris detain a man wearing fake explosives vest at Iran's Consulate
A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.