Staffing issues see hospitals compelled to curtail services
Personnel problems at territorial hospitals are forcing a reduction of services – and the problems could last for the rest of the summer.
Personnel problems at territorial hospitals are forcing a reduction of services – and the problems could last for the rest of the summer.
James Low, a spokesperson for Whitehorse General Hospital, said the facility will be “temporarily reducing and deferring scheduled (elective) surgeries due to ongoing staffing challenges.
“This will allow us to maintain capacity to respond to emergency cases, and ensure everyone can be cared for in the right place, at the right time,” Low said in a statement.
“Health human resource constraints are having an impact on hospitals and health systems across Canada,” he noted.
“Our team continues to work hard to address the issue, notify patients and restore services as quickly as possible over the next four weeks.
“We ask for Yukoners’ support and co-operation at this time.”
The hospital’s Surgical Services booking team will call patients directly if their scheduled surgery is affected by the problems.
“Patients should not call the hospital unless they feel their condition has changed,” Low said.
In a follow-up email to the Star this morning, Low said, “We are experiencing a number of health HR constraints such as nurses as well as imaging and lab technologists and other specialized positions.
“Specifically, in this most recent circumstance, we have experienced difficulty in staffing sterile reprocessing technicians who help clean, sterilize and prep our surgical instruments/equipment.
“We anticipate that these staffing pressures will be alleviated by the end of August.”
Despite that, Low said, “We encourage everyone not to delay or avoid coming to hospital, if they require urgent medical attention.”
In an emergency, people should dial 911 or go to their nearest hospital.
“The types of surgeries that are considered ‘elective’ – a better term is scheduled – would be some hernia, gall bladder, colonoscopy and cataract surgeries,” Low said.
“These are procedures that may need to be completed, but there is a bigger window of time in which it can be completed,” Low explained.
“We anticipate that on average, about a dozen procedures may be postponed on a daily basis over the coming weeks.
“We do appreciate the inconvenience and uncertainty that this creates for patients who have to be rescheduled or wait longer for a surgery date,” Low added.
“We ask that the public extend kindness to our team as they call to notify affected patients.”
As a separate issue, the hospital remains in red status today.
That means bed availability is extremely limited.
“But that said, we encourage everyone not to delay or avoid coming to hospital if you need urgent care,”Low reiterated.
“This higher occupancy is not due to one specific issue. We are working with our partners in continuing care and home as well as using all the beds in our hospital system, including moving patients to the community hospitals if safe and appropriate.”
Comments (22)
Up 3 Down 0
Juniper Jackson on Jul 16, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Hi Nathan, thanks for the reply. I don’t know if non NDPers would be allowed into their functions or Press meetings? Nerve? No one has more nerves than a senior with an agenda. I would love to ask him to make public the entire agreement. I’d like to see all of the cabinet have personal banking and business banking investigated. I have nothing good to say about a Liberal, or the NDP since Jack Layton. If the venue was open and I had transportation..you bet I’ve got the nerve.
Up 5 Down 6
Politico on Jul 15, 2022 at 2:16 pm
So the fact that Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan are also having staffing issues is also the fault of the Liberals and not the governments that run heath care. Check!
Up 8 Down 5
North_of_60 on Jul 15, 2022 at 12:28 pm
An article published in the peer-reviewed periodical of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) states that healthcare workers were among the “most likely” to express vaccine hesitancy at the beginning of the pandemic.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the report is based on a survey of 15,000 people across Canada.
The medical periodical also went on to address the termination of healthcare workers who refused to get the Covid-19 shot.
“Organizations seem to be walking a tightrope between encouraging vaccination and protecting vaccine refusers,” it said.
“The Ontario Nurses’ Association, for example, urges healthcare employers ‘not to rely solely on vaccination to prevent the spread of Covid-19’ and ‘supports education and addressing vaccine hesitancy, not penalizing and terminating nurses when we need them most.’”
“Evidence of greater hesitancy among essential and healthcare workers was both surprising and a cause for concern given they are the individuals most likely to be exposed, and expose others, to Covid-19. However our results do seem to be line with U.S. data.”
“Our finding of high vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers is consistent with other studies both within and outside of Canada,” it continued.
Several unvaccinated healthcare worker groups who were suspended and put on leave due to mandates have taken public health officials and their employers to court. Sixteen unvaccinated healthcare workers banded together recently to file a lawsuit against the Manitoba government and public health officials claiming that their Charter rights were violated.
The Yukon government's treatment of employees who chose not to take the C0vax was reprehensible, and we are now experiencing the inevitable staffing problems and the detriments to our health care it has caused. The LIBgov should be brought to task for their irresponsible actions during the C0vid situation, and Yukoners given assurances that such unnecessarily punitive action will never happen again. We deserve much better treatment than we received.
Up 7 Down 6
Not-for-Us on Jul 14, 2022 at 9:03 pm
Low said, “We are experiencing a number of health HR constraints such as nurses as well as imaging and lab technologists and other specialized positions. “Specifically, in this most recent circumstance, we have experienced difficulty in staffing sterile reprocessing technicians who help clean, sterilize and prep our surgical instruments/equipment."
These essential front-line worker positions are staffed by people who chose to quit or take early retirement instead of getting the LIBgov clot-shot. The highest rates of 'vaccination' are among administrative staff with high-paying jobs who have little or no contact with patients.
Up 5 Down 3
Nathan Living on Jul 14, 2022 at 6:43 pm
June thanks for the Liberal NDP conspiracy theory.
Jagmeet is here next week if you have the nerve to ask him.
Up 14 Down 5
Juniper Jackson on Jul 14, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Yawn: Thanks for the comment. But, Trudeau.. the Trudeau led government, calls all the shots.
This will all change big time when its closer to an election. But, Trudeau did not create the mess our country is in by himself. The supporting Liberals, and NDP Singh play a huge part. The latest conspiracy theory is: the Federal NDP party is? was? deeply in debt. Did Trudeau make a deal with Singh to pay off the NDP debt with tax dollars in return for NDP giving the Liberals a deciding vote? Trudeau promises big time, but fails to ever deliver.. to his own country.
Up 5 Down 14
Yawn on Jul 13, 2022 at 8:57 pm
June, you can’t blame this on Trudeau. The provinces and territories run health care, not the Feds.
Up 5 Down 1
Josey Wales on Jul 13, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Hey Groucho...ditto says #30!
As I slide into the geezer zone, I’d have to completely agree with you.
...on this one.
Please, carry on.
Up 16 Down 6
Juniper Jackson on Jul 12, 2022 at 6:50 pm
Groucho -I could not say it better myself. Even with the Trudeau/Liberal government consistent cuts to health care across Canada, all i have seen in the Yukon is the very best, professional health care possible.
Up 22 Down 2
MITCH on Jul 12, 2022 at 2:04 pm
It's not the vid - thank you for your insight, and for confirming what we suspect and know. Thank you for your services to the community. We know its the administration making your job harder, not the clients or the 'vid.
Up 43 Down 1
Groucho d'North on Jul 12, 2022 at 12:25 pm
Every ninty or so days I visit WGH for blood work to monitor my aging heart and other related guts. I am pleased to report the hospital staff I deal with have remained professional, courtious and pleasant each visit.
While there may be some unhappiness at various levels behind the scenes at WGH, I must acknowledge the great staff and their professional service to Yukoners.
If only our politcians had the same view of their jobs and how they conduct themselves while doing them, things would be much better for all.
Up 60 Down 5
All the lonely sheeple… Where do they all come from… on Jul 12, 2022 at 6:36 am
This really is not a staffing issue. It is a management issue, and most definitely an issue of poor leadership. It is reflective of the decline of society into the political - Stupid lemmings!
Up 31 Down 11
My Opinion on Jul 11, 2022 at 11:15 pm
Low states twice in this article,
“ That means bed availability is extremely limited. “
“But that said, we encourage everyone not to delay or avoid coming to hospital”
Seriously, why with a statement like that would they come? When a motel puts up the no vacancy sign do you go in and ask for a room????
Quit chasing people away while saying you aren’t. How stupid do you think people are?
Up 2 Down 16
bonanzajoe on Jul 11, 2022 at 8:57 pm
@Rick S on Jul 11. Try Covid program.
Up 22 Down 10
bonanzajoe on Jul 11, 2022 at 8:56 pm
The Liberal/NDP Government Covid Program. Remember that folks at the next election.
Up 51 Down 1
Its not the ‘vid on Jul 11, 2022 at 8:46 pm
So I work at WGH. Problem is not covid vaccines. The issues are long standing.
1. Governments have been underfunding health care for years, (Yukon and all of Canada).
2. YHC is terrible with top heavy management with middle managers that were put in place by the top heavy overlords. Truth is- there is no room to grow, nor do they want you to think for yourself or collaboratively.
3. At YHC admin leadership have not kept the doctors in check, Nurses, lab tech and imaging techs are tired of being abused by doctors that refuse to document and provide evidence based care. Everyone is more worried about being sued then caring for people
4. All of the above have created a systematic issue that no one wants to work for- guess what, now nurses, imaging techs, lab techs or even doctors can run away because the jobs in their communities they came to the Yukon from, now have work! With 90% of the healthcare staff recruited here we now have choices to make.
Up 39 Down 8
Vlad on Jul 11, 2022 at 6:55 pm
Don’t let this government or the chief medical officer, a politician in a white coat, convince you that unvaccinated people are not healthy, that they can spread covid or any other utter nonsense spewed from their mouths over the last 2 years. It is insane that people who are not vaccinated are not allowed back to work to help others who actually need help.
Up 28 Down 31
Wilf Carter on Jul 11, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Here we go Yukoners. No health care for the summer.
Up 63 Down 26
DL on Jul 11, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Quoting from the Vancouver Sun article:
“Several senior health-care administrators and other former workers who were fired for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination have filed a formal petition seeking to end mandatory shots for employees in the province’s health sector.”
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/court-petition-seeks-to-end-mandatory-vaccines-for-b-c-health-care-workers
Up 56 Down 30
North_of_60 on Jul 11, 2022 at 4:05 pm
C0vax mandates and C0vax reactions continue to affect staff numbers in all government services as well as business that mandated shots as a condition of employment. Many people opted for early retirement, quit, or were placed on leave-without-pay instead of taking the never-ending C0vax shots.
Up 65 Down 43
DL on Jul 11, 2022 at 4:02 pm
Solution: end the covid vaccine mandate NOW for all health care staff. Many have quit because they didn't want to take this experimental jab. Others became quite ill with it, so couldn't show up for work.
And it's official now: the covid jab doesn't stop the spread of covid. Covid jab mandates make absolutely no sense. Except for increasing $$$ for big pharma's CEOs.
Up 56 Down 11
Rick S on Jul 11, 2022 at 3:43 pm
"This higher occupancy is not due to one specific issue."
Amazing how countries the world over are having the same problems with over-extended ER units, record disabilities, record life insurance claims, and once-in-a-millennium excess mortality events.
I wonder what it could be? Climate change?