As originally reported by the Capital Daily in Victoria, an internal note was issued informing staff at Victoria General Hospital of an “overdose situation” and advising them to consider using hotel rooms. The note, obtained independently by the CBC, states that acute care facilities are specifically addressing this crisis. Island Health says the directive is for these places, but it does not affect those seeking acute care – rather, it is for those who have received care and need a place to stay in between. In a statement sent by e-mail, the health authority clarified that while the hospitals are “extremely busy”, they are willing to take care of anyone who needs medical care. “There is and has never been a plan to place patients in hospitals in need of acute care in hotel rooms,” the statement said. Island Health says it uses occasional hotel rooms for people who do not need emergency care but whose living conditions are unsafe, for example, someone who is homeless or waiting for a bed in another facility. The note also suggested other measures that hospital staff could take to speed up the discharge process, including overtime and recruiting leaders for help, to create more space for acute care patients in the hospital. During a media controversy, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix said the note was intended specifically for exit-facilitating detox coordinators to remind them of these choices. “It does not happen to send people in need of acute care to hotel rooms. It would not happen. It would not make sense,” Dix told reporters. Saanich Peninsula Hospital was diverted by ambulance – where patients transported by ambulance to another nearby hospital – for 45 minutes on April 24, but the emergency room remained open to patients, according to health officials. No other information was given as to why this happened or how it was resolved. Dix said the hospital’s capacity remains a challenge as the pandemic and toxic drug crisis continue. Last week’s COVID numbers showed that hospitalizations had increased by 33 percent compared to the previous week.
Critique of number reporting
As of April 21, 485 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, including 38 in the intensive care unit, according to the BC COVID-19 control panel. After two years of daily reporting of COVID-19-related illnesses and deaths, the county turned to information disclosures on Thursdays three weeks ago. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau criticized the government’s move in a weekly report on COVID-19 during the interrogation period on Tuesday after the Capital Daily article was published, saying it would prefer to learn about hospital capacity issues from the government. contrary to media reports. “It is very important to have transparency and to provide a proper assessment of the conditions in the public health care system today,” Dix said in response.
title: “Hospital Staff Recommended Examining Hotel Rooms For Some Patients To Free Up Bed Space Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-20” author: “Gloria Ferguson”
As originally reported by the Capital Daily in Victoria, an internal note was issued informing staff at Victoria General Hospital of an “overdose situation” and advising them to consider using hotel rooms. The note, obtained independently by the CBC, states that acute care facilities are specifically addressing this crisis. Island Health says the directive is for these places, but it does not affect those seeking acute care – rather, it is for those who have received care and need a place to stay in between. In a statement sent by e-mail, the health authority clarified that while the hospitals are “extremely busy”, they are willing to take care of anyone who needs medical care. “There is and has never been a plan to place patients in hospitals in need of acute care in hotel rooms,” the statement said. Island Health says it uses occasional hotel rooms for people who do not need emergency care but whose living conditions are unsafe, for example, someone who is homeless or waiting for a bed in another facility. The note also suggested other measures that hospital staff could take to speed up the discharge process, including overtime and recruiting leaders for help, to create more space for acute care patients in the hospital. During a media controversy, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix said the note was intended specifically for exit-facilitating detox coordinators to remind them of these choices. “It does not happen to send people in need of acute care to hotel rooms. It would not happen. It would not make sense,” Dix told reporters. Saanich Peninsula Hospital was diverted by ambulance – where patients transported by ambulance to another nearby hospital – for 45 minutes on April 24, but the emergency room remained open to patients, according to health officials. No other information was given as to why this happened or how it was resolved. Dix said the hospital’s capacity remains a challenge as the pandemic and toxic drug crisis continue. Last week’s COVID numbers showed that hospitalizations had increased by 33 percent compared to the previous week.
Critique of number reporting
As of April 21, 485 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, including 38 in the intensive care unit, according to the BC COVID-19 control panel. After two years of daily reporting of COVID-19-related illnesses and deaths, the county turned to information disclosures on Thursdays three weeks ago. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau criticized the government’s move in a weekly report on COVID-19 during the interrogation period on Tuesday after the Capital Daily article was published, saying it would prefer to learn about hospital capacity issues from the government. contrary to media reports. “It is very important to have transparency and to provide a proper assessment of the conditions in the public health care system today,” Dix said in response.
