NEW: Staffing shortages in hospitals could take five-six years to address, Queensway Carleton Hospital official says ottnews
The clinical director of the emergency department at the Queensway Carleton Hospital insists the hospital in Ottawa's west end is being "more creative" with its staffing models to care for patients and keep the emergency department open this summer.
"The staff – they are tired, it's been a long two-and-a-half years, very busy workload, we're into wave seven of COVID. We have the staff shortages, sicker patients that are coming in and it is a culmination of everything and having a less workforce has made us be more creative in terms of keeping the doors open to the emergency department and seeing those patients that need to be seen by a patient right away.
The Queensway Carleton Hospital concedes wait times have exceeded 12 hours for some patients in the emergency department. "It's common now to see 250, sometimes 260 patients, but also a lot higher ambulance traffic as well," Smith said."I waited well over four hours. And then by the time they did all the tests, the exams and everything, they noticed it was a ruptured ovarian cyst," Bolestridge said.
"We've used practical nurses, which have just a smaller scope of practice than what would a registered nurse is, to fill shifts." "Periodic COVID outbreaks continue to have an impact on available ED staff resources. We will continue adapting as needed to address these staffing challenges, and ensure that patients receive the care they need," TOH said in a statement.
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