PCH emergency department staff issue letter to visitors warning of long wait times, capacity issues
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Prince County Hospital’s emergency division hit close to capability this week, prompting workers on the Summerside facility at hand out a letter to these within the ready room.
The be aware, signed by “workers and physicians” warned sufferers of the capability points the division was experiencing. It stated 90 per cent of the division’s stretchers had been being utilized for sufferers in hallways.
“This severely impacts our skill to offer care to all new and incoming sufferers and because of this, we’re experiencing longer than regular wait instances,” the be aware learn.
Emergency division doctor Steven MacNeill stated the explanation for the letter was to maintain folks knowledgeable concerning the scenario.
“The capability on the hospital varies from day-to-day, and the letter is a simple strategy to preserve folks up to date with how a lot area the division has,” stated MacNeill.
The physician stated he has at instances gone to the division’s ready room to maintain folks up to date, however with how busy the ground is, the letter is simpler at hand out.
MacNeill famous that the emergency division has 19 stretcher areas, one eye room and a few household rooms, that are all getting used for sufferers.
“On high of that, we have now stretchers within the hallway, which is the primary time the emergency division has had stretchers there.”
MacNeill stated the division’s capability subject stems from a scarcity of household docs, registered nurses, licensed sensible nurses, and resident care staff.
“The hospital’s emergency division is a security internet for when clinics, household docs and different cares aren’t open or not obtainable.”
The be aware additionally suggested residents that wait instances will likely be longer than anticipated and inspired various cares like a household physician, walk-in clinic, or pharmacy, if potential.
“The be aware was to not say go away, however when you have different choices, you could wish to take into account them as an alternative of ready for lengthy durations of time,” he stated.
MacNeill stated that in an ideal world, the division would use social or mainstream media to get this info to the general public, however he stated it might additionally trigger folks needing care to not are available in.
“The least we will do is be direct and inform folks of present points and wait instances on the division, and the letter updates everybody coming in.”
Liberal Chief Hal Perry introduced the problem to the ground of the provincial legislature on Friday.
“It is fairly unhappy when workers and physicians at hospital should put out an advisory to the general public to seek out alternate medical wants.”
“There’s one thing mistaken at any time when it is the workers and the physicians which might be extra involved about entry to well being care than this authorities and Well being P.E.I.”
When SaltWire contacted Well being P.E.I. we had been referred to Dr. MacNeill who created the be aware that was shared by workers. An e-mail searching for remark from the well being division didn’t obtain a response by deadline.
