More B.C. surgeries to be cancelled amid staff, bed shortages due to COVID spike

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — British Columbians will have to wait a couple more days to learn how many surgeries have been cancelled because of rising COVID-19 cases across the province.

On Tuesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix will provide an update to the province as a majority of people taking up space in ERs are unvaccinated, causing bed shortages and cancellations for other patients.

“Urgent primary care centres are emerging across the province to take pressure off ERs,” he said. “A lot of people present at emergency rooms that could be better serviced at an urgent primary care clinic to get the services they need.”

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According to Dix, many of the folks who show up to the ER need to be connected to a mental health practitioner, surgeon, GP, or another expert.

“We’re trying to build alternative systems to take pressure off our acute care systems,” he added.

“But again, Kamloops and the Interior Health Authority has been the centre for assisting people that are addressing COVID symptoms, and it has also been a place we’ve been moving our long-term placements because of COVID concerns.”

It’s also important to train the next generation of healthcare workers to meet the needs of the population, he said.

Interior Health confirmed staffing shortages are still a problem in Kamloops, and at times the consequences have been dire. Last week, a 70-year-old grandmother died while waiting for urgent care.

“Interior Health reviews all unexpected deaths that occur in a hospital to determine what took place. Staffing levels are included in that review, so it would not be appropriate to speak to those specific details as that process is underway,” wrote Interior Health in an email to NEWS 1130 Sunday.


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Nine nurses have been hired for Interior Health since June 5, but it’s not clear how many vacancies still need to be filled there. Two full-time and four temporary ER nurses will be starting at Royal Inland Hospital soon, with more to be brought on as needed.

Employees at Royal Inland Hospital have even been working in new departments to help under-staffed emergency wards get through each day.

Interior Health has invested $1 million in new funding to add staff to the RIH emergency department. That includes a patient care coordinator, an additional registered nurse and licensed practical nurse for daytime and evenings, and an additional registered nurse for days.

“All health care workers at RIH and across Interior Health deserve our appreciation and recognition through the pandemic in particular, and we thank them for the care and compassion they show each day to patients and families,” wrote Interior Health.

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