Staff redeployment possible as Alberta Children’s Hospital struggles with wave of sick kids | 24CA News

Health officers are engaged on plans to redeploy workers, if wanted, and suspending a small variety of surgical procedures as Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary struggles to maintain up with ballooning demand.

Daily emergency room visits are up 20 to 30 per cent, in line with Alberta Health Services, because the hospital battles a wave of respiratory diseases, together with influenza, RSV and COVID-19.

The inpatient items over 100 per cent capability, the ICU is almost full and the hospital continues to face ongoing staffing shortages.

AHS confirmed on Tuesday the hospital is suspending one or two scheduled surgical procedures a day for a complete of 10 this week.

 There are greater than 170 scheduled surgical procedures deliberate on the hospital this week.

“This is a fluid situation, and we will continue to review upcoming surgical lists for all service areas on a case-by-case basis and dependent on daily …capacity,” AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson stated in an emailed assertion, including all emergency and most cancers surgical procedures will proceed. 

“We appreciate these situations can be stressful for families and these decisions are based on the best medical advice for each situation.”

Redeployment is one other attainable measure within the works to alleviate stress on the hospital.

“We are working closely with our union partners to help in redeploying staff if and when needed to meet the care needs of this vulnerable population,” Williamson stated.

“At this time, emergency provisions for redeployment of staff at Alberta Children’s Hospital are in the preliminary discussion phase with [three unions]. These provisions were last used to support the response to COVID-19.”

According to Williamson, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) are the unions concerned.

He stated redeployment measures haven’t but been triggered and can be used solely as a final resort.

Unions reply

“Everyone is very concerned — concerned about how we’re going to keep up with the demand,” stated Leanne Alfaro, vice-president with HSAA.

She stated respiratory therapists will doubtless be the primary of her union’s members to be redeployed from outpatient items at Alberta Children’s Hospital to the ER and ICU.

It’s a transfer that might end in youngsters having their care postponed down the road, stated Alfaro, who works at the northwest Calgary hospital conducting diagnostic neurological testing.

“Wait lists will go up for treatment [for] outpatients, potentially.… Illnesses could get more severe, and potentially that could lead to more emergency visits.”

According to Alfaro, workers may ultimately be redeployed from different hospitals as effectively.

Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, stated the important thing focus is reassigning workers inside the hospital and utilizing non-unionized nurses, comparable to nurse managers, together with individuals who do not often present direct scientific care.

“They’re really looking at trying to reassign [within the hospital], particularly to bolster the pediatric ICU, and there may well be some to emergency as well. But the hope is by having more … capacity in PICU that will help to pull off some of the pressure on the emergency department,” she stated.

Smith stated it is troublesome to foretell what number of nurses might be redeployed, and it may change day by day relying on what number of workers find yourself off sick with the identical viruses bringing youngsters in.

“It’s an incredible workload issue and I suspect there’s a lot of fear.”

AUPE not conscious

The AUPE, which represents licensed sensible nurses and health-care aides, stated it was not conscious of the redeployment plans.

Bobby-Joe Borodey, a vice-president with AUPE, stated AHS officers gave her union a heads up that they had been contemplating emergency measures.  But she stated the union had not been advised redeployment was within the works.

“Based on what we actually see on the ground, I would say it’s definitely imminent,” she stated.

“It’s what I would describe as being at a crisis point right now.”

According to Borodey, workers on the Alberta Children’s Hospital are apprehensive.

“Our members are telling us that they are stressed. Burnout is a real thing … and we know it will only get worse before it can ever get better,” she stated.

This is the most recent in various steps AHS has taken to take care of demand.

A trailer was arrange just lately to offer further ready area outdoors the ER. It’s anticipated to open in early December. 

An overflow ER was arrange to fast-track much less critical sufferers at peak instances, and a six-bed quick keep unit is in operation on evenings and weekends.

According to Williamson, AHS additionally plans so as to add extra beds at Alberta Children’s Hospital in addition to open three extra beds at a small pediatric unit at Peter Lougheed Hospital in northeast Calgary.