Nurses at Manitoba’s largest hospital say they’re so overwhelmed they just can’t keep an eye on everyone all the time.
A spokesperson for Shared Health Manitoba says an initial review of the circumstances surrounding this event is underway.
last February, in the emergency department of this hospital”,”text”:”Although privacy law prevents us from discussing the details of a patient’s case, we are able to confirm that we are investigating on a potential critical incident that occurred for an hour on February 27 in the emergency department of this hospital””>Although privacy law prevents us from discussing the details of a patient’s case, we are able to confirm that we are investigating a potential critical incident that occurred for an hour on February 27 last, in the emergency department of this hospital
he says by email.
Manitoba Nurses Union President Darlene Jackson says this is disturbing news, but not unexpected either
.
I’ve been hearing from ER nurses for some time now that they fear there are incidents like this, simply because of the working conditions and lack of staff to monitor patients
she adds.
« I offer my condolences to the family for what happened. It is a shame that our health care system has fallen into such disrepair. »
Darlene Jackson recalls that too often ER staff have to deal with patients who should be in a hospital ward, rather than in the halls of the ER, where they occupy a bed, need to be changed, fed and cared for. Nurses then run around to respond to both patients who need urgent care and those who are waiting for a bed in a unit.
What happens is that these patients come in, they’re sick, they have to be admitted, and there’s no place to put them. So they end up landing in the emergency department, which of course clogs up the waiting room.
explains Darlene Jackson.
Nurses try to move sicker patients closer together where they can monitor them, and to move more stable patients to other areas, but this is not always possible.
at 15hours”,”text”:”Some patients remain seated [aux urgences] for 12 to 15 hours””>Some patients remain seated [aux urgences] for 12 to 15 hours
estime Darlene Jackson.
The situation is the same in all hospitals in Winnipeg, she said.
You won’t find an emergency department in this town that doesn’t have patients in the hallways right now. This is a reality of our health care system right now, showing the shortage of nurses
she says.
The government remains silent, the opposition is critical
At a press conference to congratulate herself on the success of a nurse recruitment mission in the Philippines, the Minister of Health Audrey Gordon did not want to comment on the tragedy. She was content to salute the work of the health personnel before turning on her heels.
The opposition was critical of the minister’s attitude towards the media. Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MPP Wab Kinew stressed the urgency of addressing the issues facing ERs in the province. We do not have all the details on this case, but we know the problem in the emergency services. Manitobans need to regain confidence in their health care system
.
Liberal Party leader Dougald Lamont said the Conservative government has compounded the loss of patient confidence in the healthcare system. He believes that the government has preferred to save money rather than invest in improving the quality of patient care.
Don’t think this is going to be solved by a happy budget announcement next week, it won’t be.
he blurted out.
With information from Darren Bernhardt