While the extreme pressure reported by the Brantford General Hospital two weeks ago has eased slightly, staffing issues and patient volumes continue to contribute to wait times for both treatment and beds.
As of late Friday morning, the hospital reported just 12 emergency patients waiting for inpatient beds as opposed to 20 on June 26. However, a spokesperson said the respite may be temporary.
“Unfortunately, the pressure remains as there is a continual ebb and flow to ER operations,” said Alena Lukich, the hospital’s chief communications officer.
“There may be times when the volume is marginally lighter but pressures, including staffing pressures, still remain.”
On Friday, hospital beds were 100 percent occupied but there were no ambulances waiting to offload for more than 30 minutes.
“Our ER team has noted that we are seeing an increase in complexity and acuity in the patients requiring care,” Lukich said.
“This means that the patients coming in to the ER have greater than usual care demands, requiring more support and testing.”
With similar pressures at all other regional hospitals and an ongoing need for more healthcare workers, Lukich said the Brant Community Healthcare System is working continuously to recruit and retain staff.
“Nights and weekends do remain a pressure point. Our emergency department meets two to three times a day to . . . enact strategies to mitigate them.”
According to statistics the health system maintains, the time it takes for an initial assessment with a doctor has increased from 2.3, 2.6 and 2.7 hours last April, May and June to 3 and 3.2 hours in this April and May.
Statistics for last month have not yet been compiled.
The time to get an in-patient bed increased this April to an average of 13.8 hours but dropped in May to 9.7 hours from last year’s 13.1 hours.
The number of hours a person stays in the emergency department increased slightly this spring to about eight hours.
Lukich said the community can assist by avoiding the ER when an issue can be treated in Urgent Care or with a family doctor.
People are urged to check the hospital wait time website and look for other options.
“You can likely expect ongoing long wait times,” Lukich advised.
“We are always here to support and serve our community.”
Go to https://bit.ly/healthcareoptions2 to see a variety of treatment options and advice from the healthcare system.
@EXPSGamble
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