SASKATOON — Shadow Minister for Health and the Saskatoon Fairview MLA, Vicki Mowat, again pleaded with the provincial government to address the patient overcrowding at Royal University Hospital’s (RUH) emergency department.
On Wednesday, May 21, it was reported that the RUH emergency department was overflowing, with patients on stretchers outside the staff entrance being treated in hallways on the ground level. They could be seen in the main hallway near the old elevators in the main mall area.
Mowat, at a media event on Thursday, May 22, at her constituency office on 22nd Street, added that the same thing is happening at St. Paul’s Hospital, with health-care workers being pushed to their breaking point.
Shadow Minister for Health said what has happened is deeply concerning and part of an ongoing crisis in the province — the birthplace of Medicare — with health-care workers informing her that patients on stretchers had to be placed in public hallways, depriving them of privacy.
“RUH and St. Paul's staff are burning out, often working in unsafe conditions and lacking resources to handle surging patient demand. Staff have described the situation in the emergency rooms in this city as akin to a war zone,” said Mowat.
“We … demand an emergency action plan to address the crisis inside Royal University Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon. Enough is enough. It's time to build Saskatchewan health care for the future.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority, in a statement, said they are committed to providing quality care for the province's residents and are aware of the current increase in demand on the emergency departments that exceed average volumes.
"Staff and physicians have taken immediate measures to help alleviate some of the congestion in the city’s emergency departments by temporarily moving patients into available spaces within the hospital until more space becomes available," SHA said in the statement.
"The SHA appreciates the patience and understanding of members of the public as our staff and physicians work diligently to improve patient flow and work through the system pressures we are currently experiencing. The SHA and system partners are also working on permanently expanding capacity in Saskatoon by adding over 100 acute care inpatient beds at Saskatoon City Hospital in the coming year."
Mowat added that the Saskatchewan Party-led government’s decision to cut $17 million from the provincial budget has not helped, and the Opposition is calling on the government to reverse the cut to health care and hire additional hospital staff.
It was reported that on Tuesday, May 20, 93 patients were in the RUH emergency department, a facility designed to hold about half that number. St.. Paul’s had 53 patients in its emergency room, which was meant to accommodate just 28.
“This isn’t just about numbers. These are real people waiting in pain, seniors stuck on stretchers in hallways, and families worried sick,” said Mowat.
“We know that there have been ongoing pressures, though at [the Saskatoon] City Hospital as well, that they have been unable to retain a physician full-time, to be able to keep their hours open. But undoubtedly, there isn't enough hospital capacity for what's needed right now.”
Mowat added that the overflow at the hospital’s emergency department is caused by patients who have been admitted but were not given a bed, causing the emergency rooms to fill. The situation at Saskatoon City Hospital also had an impact.
“There aren't enough rooms in the hospital, and that comes from a whole host of reasons, but not having enough beds in the medicine wards of the hospital has been a particular concern,” said Mowat.
“Those who need access to long-term care also occupy space needed for emergencies. Looking at the whole system, you see that not having access to family doctors and long-term care in Saskatoon makes a big difference.”
Mowat said the situation has reached a point where staff feel they have no choice but to appeal to the public in the hopes of pressuring the Saskatchewan Party government to take immediate corrective action.
“These emergency rooms are being compared to war zones. This is not a coincidence. This is a crisis. What we’re seeing is a system-wide failure. When patients can’t access family doctors, they end up in ERs,” said Mowat, who also emphasized the burnout felt by health-care workers.
*The original article was edited to include the SHA statement on the situation.
