The London Health Sciences Center (LHSC) is urging people to act patiently and kindly despite increasing wait times in emergency departments.
LHSC, like health services across the country, is struggling with increasing wait times due to staff shortages; Some facilities in the province have even been forced to temporarily close emergency rooms.
Continue reading:
‘It’s disappointing’: Ontario hospital is closing ER again due to staff shortages
Continue reading:
Indigo Recall: More than 21,000 mugs and ornaments have been withdrawn from Canadian markets due to mold
“Emergency rooms shouldn’t be closed, you know, especially in an academic tertiary care center. I would foresee that we would never close. I think the closure of frontline care areas is a concern for our community,” said Dr. Christie MacDonald, Citywide Chief of Emergency Medicine and LHSC Division Chief of Emergency Medicine.
“Our volume and the acuity or disease severity of our patients has increased, and the complexity of our patients has increased.”
The story continues below the ad
MacDonald tells Global News that while pediatric emergency medicine cases are leveling off slightly, adult emergency medicine patient volume continues to grow.
She adds that she doesn’t expect the wait to decrease any time soon.
Our adult and pediatric emergency departments have longer than normal wait times.
We ask the community to show patience and kindness while our teams care for patients.
In a medical emergency, dial 911 or go to an emergency room.
Non-emergency care options:
1/3 pic.twitter.com/vJ1PuaBbHD
— London Health Sciences Center (@LHSCCanada) August 9, 2022
Londoner Chris Hodgins says his 84-year-old mother waited more than 16 hours at University Hospital before she was able to see a doctor for severe hip pain three weeks ago.
Hodgins says he took his mother to the emergency room around 6:10 p.m. on a Monday and finally left around 1 p.m. the next day.
The story continues below the ad
“The wait was said to be eight to 10 hours and I’ve dealt with that before and unfortunately that’s kind of standard. I didn’t think having them up there would bother me the next morning, but it turns out we were there overnight,” he said.
Hodgins said he had to get another family member to drive several hours to wait with his mother while he went to work the next day. He said another woman had already been waiting five hours when they first arrived on Monday and left on Tuesday at the same time as his mother.
hot right now
-
Longtime CBC journalist, editor dead after random attack in Toronto
-
‘It’s Hell on Earth’: Federal Conservative leaders on how BC is managing its drug crisis
1:27
NDP’s Jagmeet Singh provides solutions to problems in Canada’s healthcare system
His mother, Valari, was diagnosed with severe hip pain related to arthritis. He says she’ll probably need surgery later.
“When she was able to see a doctor, it was relatively quick, but it’s only the 16-hour wait to see a doctor.”
The story continues below the ad
He says that while he doesn’t blame the healthcare workers, the situation is extremely frustrating.
While waiting in the ER, Hodgins wrote a letter to Doug Ford and his local MPP, Peggy Sattler, about the situation. Hodgins said he received a letter from Ford’s office saying they were working to hire more workers and a response from Sattler asking permission to bring his experience to the legislature.
Continue reading:
Ontario’s health system is not unprecedented, health secretary says
Continue reading:
Former Alberta CMOH Deena Hinshaw has been named public health leader in BC
On Tuesday, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance said Clinton Public Hospital in the Central Huron community would be closed Thursday but would return to reduced daily operating hours — from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — on Friday.
When asked if the same could happen at LHSC, MacDonald reassures residents that the same is not likely at LHSC.
“We would be in a very difficult position if we had to close the doors of an academic tertiary care center and I don’t see that in our future at all,” she said. “Our nursing team continues to come into work every day, as do our doctors, and our leadership team continues to frantically recruit and support on-site staff to prevent shortages or bed closures.”
The story continues below the ad
In a statement released on Twitter, LHSC said the healthcare organization has been addressing employee illness, retirement and terminations. The hospital network says it hired 436 new employees last year to make up for the losses.
THREAD 🧵
Today is day 881 of the COVID-19 pandemic.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/9b98sVQ4wW
— London Health Sciences Center (@LHSCCanada) August 9, 2022
On Tuesday, Primer Doug Ford’s throne speech acknowledged the problems in the health care system and said more could be done to simplify the system, but did not provide any concrete solutions.
“More can still be done. Your government is actively working with healthcare partners to find urgent, actionable solutions and will take whatever action is needed to ease immediate pressure while ensuring the province is prepared to remain open through a winter surge.” said Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, who delivered Ford’s speech from the throne to mark the beginning of the new legislature.
The story continues below the ad
– with files by Andrew Graham of Global News, Allison Jones of The Canadian Press and Noushin Ziafati
2:46
According to Ford, 90% of Ontario residents are treated in emergency rooms within 8 hours
previous video
next video
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.