'Staffing crisis' forces reduced hours at B.C. hospitals, cancelled surgeries
Health authorities in B.C. announced their plans to address persistent staff shortages amid the latest wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with strategies including reduced hours, cancelled surgeries and fewer hospital beds.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said Tuesday each authority is responsible for coming up with its own plan to help "stabilize the health-care system."
"I understand some of these measures may cause concerns and challenges for patients. We are determined to get services up, back and running in full as soon as possible," he said.
INTERIOR HEALTH
Some of the most extensive service changes planned in B.C. are in the Interior Health authority, which serves just over 800,000 people.
"As we manage the Omicron-driven COVID-19 staffing impacts on the health system, Interior Health is proactively identifying services to adjust and relocate in order to maintain safe patient care," said Interior Health president and CEO Susan Brown.
"We will resume normal operations in impacted communities as soon as possible and in the meantime, we are temporarily reassigning and redeploying staff to sustain essential services throughout the region."
Those changes include temporarily closing several inpatient beds in Clearwater, Invermere and Lilloeet to prepare "for short-notice staff absences." Six to eight beds are closed at each of those locations.
Additionally, overnight hours are being reduced at Ashcroft Community Health Centre and the Slocan Community Health Centre. Specific details on those hours can be seen in Interior Health's notice.
The Barriere and District Health Centre is closing until further notice so staff can be redeployed to other nearby communities. Anyone needing emergency care should call 911 or go to the health centre in Clearwater or Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, which are both about a 45-minute drive away.
All non-urgent surgeries have been rescheduled and hours for some outpatient services have been reduced.
"Current COVID-19 pressures have led to a staffing crisis that requires temporary emergency measures to maintain access to essential services that are relied on regionally," Brown said. "We regret the impacts these service adjustments may cause and will be contacting patients, clients and residents directly to address care needs wherever possible."
NORTHERN HEALTH
B.C.'s smallest health authority, Northern Health, said surgical and ambulatory services are impacted at several locations.
Both Wrinch Memorial Hospital and Bulkley Valley District Hospital are going down from two surgical slates to one, which is expected to impact about 30 surgeries. Bookings for surgeries are also being reduced at Dawson Creek and District Hospital over the next few weeks.
Staffing issues at long-term care facilities means admissions at some locations have been paused. As well, some outpatient services have been reduced.
"Existing staffing challenges in the north are compounded by Omicron-related impacts, and some staff will need to be temporarily reassigned within communities in the region, to ensure essential service levels," said Cathy Ulrich, Northern Health's president and CEO, in a news release.
"The pandemic has placed inordinate pressure on health care workers in Northern Health across all service areas, but we have also seen innovation and creativity in addressing these challenges."
VANCOUVER COASTAL, FRASER HEALTH
B.C.'s two largest health authorities, which encompass the Lower Mainland and beyond, didn't announce changes and specific facilities Tuesday.
However, both Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health said they've had to reschedule non-urgent elective surgeries. In Vancouver Coastal, 154 appointments were rescheduled over the past month, while Fraser Health rescheduled 128.
Vancouver Coastal also said staffing impacts have seen "a pronounced effect on rural and remote sites" because they typically operate with smaller teams.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Bhinder Sajan
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.