The Saskatchewan Health Authority has released its Regina Capacity Pressure Action Plan, considering the heightened capacity issues at Regina’s two hospitals. Last month, the SHA outlined actions and strategies for Saskatoon’s hospitals and now the same is happening in Regina.
SHA Vice-President of Integrated Regina Health says capacity pressures are being exacerbated by seasonal respiratory viruses and a rise in patients presenting with complex needs. Over the next 90 days, the SHA will work to add additional staff within acute care to support timely discharges and free up inpatient beds more quickly, add more palliative home care resources, open four extra high-acuity beds at Regina General Hospital and increase chronic disease supports in the community to avoid unnecessary Emergency Department visits.
The SHA adds that recent actions this year have already increased capacity including the addition of 28 medicine beds at Pasqua Hospital, more Emergency Room staff were added, and four General Internal Medicine Admitting physicians were hired.
Other actions this year include:
• addition of six high acuity beds at Regina General Hospital acting as step-down ICU unit to ensure capacity for those patients requiring Critical Care services;
• addition of two 24/7 staffed ambulances in the community;
• the addition of six hospice beds at Wascana Rehab Centre, and;
• an announced additional community Policy and Crisis Team (PACT) in Regina.
On Wednesday, the provincial NDP released a memo from the Regina Fire Inspector which warns the government that persistent hallway healthcare in both Regina hospitals is resulting in “serious fire code violations”. The Inspector stated that beds are crowding the hallways and that this is an ongoing issue that has been brought to his attention before.
