Surrey Memorial status update shows improvement, but proves disappointing
British Columbia's minister of health went to Surrey Memorial Hospital with top officials from the Fraser Health Authority for a promised update on measures to improve services at the beleaguered hospital, but the incremental improvements proved to be a disappointment.
Front-line staff tell CTV News they'd hoped for an announcement of new initiatives or strategies – maybe even an expansion of the hospital – but were underwhelmed by slow and steady progress, as was the city's mayor.
"Honestly, I was hoping to hear about a second tower right here at Surrey and we didn’t hear that," said Brenda Locke. "I’m hopeful, though, that’s in the plan."
The emergency department is so busy that Fraser Health recently installed an overflow waiting room with two exam rooms in a portable building just outside the emergency department specifically for children and their parents when demand is high.
A portable building has been installed at Surrey Memorial Hospital to serve as an overflow waiting room during especially busy times for pediatric patients. (CTV)
Health Minister Adrian Dix detailed the progress made on a 30-point plan devised after the hospital's doctors spoke publicly about patient safety concerns due to critical staffing shortages and delayed care. The hiring of hundreds of staff and progress on expanded services, including dialysis and cardiac diagnostics, were also highlighted.
"It’s not instant change, but on every one of the measures we decided to do together there has been action and there has been progress," Dix told patients, staff, and others who'd gathered in the atrium of the SMH critical care tower.
Fraser Health board chair Jim Sinclair also acknowledged that progress has been difficult given the wide-scale labour shortage in the province, with health-care professionals in particularly short supply.
"Recruitment, obviously it’s an issue," he said. "But the fact they’ve recruited 165 health-care professionals (to newly created positions) is amazing and something we need to celebrate."
However, SMH patients continue to face long waits in the emergency department, up to 12 hours from the time they register in the waiting room to the time they're moved to an exam room. Dix also acknowledged that there are only 740 permanent "base" beds in the hospital, but 825 currently admitted.
That means 65 patients are in beds lining hallways or crammed into whatever spare space is available. Over the weekend, the hospital didn't have access to CT scanning services because there were no available technologists to run the machinery.
A second community hospital is in development for the city, but has been widely criticized as woefully insufficient for the city's current needs, let alone future population pressures.
CTV News asked the health minister when patients could expect to start seeing the impacts of behind-the-scenes logistical, hiring and planning efforts to improve service at Surrey Memorial and he insisted "they are now."
The emergency department is so busy that Fraser Health recently installed an overflow waiting room with two exam rooms in a portable building just outside the emergency department specifically for children and their parents when demand is high. (CTV)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
'Do I ghost her again?': Quebec minister's office ignores questions on housing as a human right
The office of Quebec Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau prefers to openly ignore journalists' requests.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.