nurse's union says jim pattison children's hospital stretched to the limit
3 minute read
we apologize, but this video has failed to load.
try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
the president of the saskatchewan union of nurses says conversations with members paint a concerning picture of the standard of care at the jim pattison children’s hospital.
tracy zambory told postmedia that she’s hearing there are as many as three times the normal number of kids waiting for treatment at jpch on a given day, amid surging rates of respiratory infections.
nurses are almost relieved to be dealing with overcapacity rates hovering around 200 per cent, zambory said, noting there have been days when patients have waited in their vehicles as overcapacity surged as high 400 per cent.
“we’re sitting at 200 per cent over capacity and that’s feeling like the new normal. so something is not functioning correctly here,” she said, adding nurses have raised concerns about a lack of physicians and a lack of supplies.
zambory said she’s frustrated that little seems to have been done in the face of data from neighbouring provinces telegraphing a surge in kids’ respiratory infections headed our way, alongside ongoing covid-19.
saskatchewan union of nurses president tracy zambory says her members are reporting serious concerns related to understaffing at the jim pattison children’s hospital. (photo courtesy of saskatchewan union of nurses)
“saskatchewan is not an island that we’re not going to get touched,” she said. “to know that rsv, that influenza a was wreaking havoc on children, and to try to do some proactive things. unfortunately, that did not happen. and again, it landed in the lap of registered nurses to try to do the best with what they had. and that’s what they did.”
advertisement
zambory said nurses, doctors and other medical professionals were warning of pressures on the system before covid-19 “tore the curtain off” ongoing staffing shortages. now, she said registered nurses at jpch and across the province’s other facilities are “working in the rubble” of a health-care system that has effectively collapsed under the weight of the pandemic.
while health-care providers are doing the best they can, zambory said nurse-to-patient ratios can’t stay this “out of whack” indefinitely without eventually compromising patient safety.
she said she doesn’t believe the leadership in the province’s health-care system is willing to admit the severity of the staffing shortage, and that the province’s plans lean too heavily on recruiting new nurses, rather than retaining existing ones.
“do we need to recruit? yes, we do. but that should not be the number one job we’re doing here,” she said.
the saskatchewan health authority responded to a request for an interview regarding overcapacity issues at the jpch with an emailed statement.
“all patients admitted to hospital receive appropriate care,” an sha spokesman wrote, adding that the sha seeks to provide that care in facilities as close to a patient’s home community as possible. he went on to note 11 beds were added at jpch in response to rising demand.
advertisement
he noted contingency plans have been used involving adding “surge” space or movement of patients to another children’s unit. “to date, this has been effective and no programs or surgeries have been cancelled. delays in admissions have been experienced primarily due to staff illness,” he added.
families with ill children are encouraged to continue seeking support from their family physician, the 811 healthline telephone service or from their nearest emergency department, if needed.
want to know how we decide what to cover and how editorial decisions are made at the saskatoon starphoenix and regina leader-post? get the weekly letter from the editor newsletter from the editor in chief russell wangersky and join the discussion on what goes into covering news and delivering commentary, both in print and online. click here to subscribe.
share story
