Overcrowding has been happening for what ‘seems like years now’
The Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety has issued a notice of contravention to Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital due to overcapacity and the risks it causes to workers..
Following an Oct. 2 inspection, an occupational health officer acknowledges three issues: obstructing safe means of entry and exit areas, and obstructions that could affect staff health and welfare.
These were all driven by too many patients in the emergency room and area, according to a CBC report.
The notice cited the emergency room manager, saying there were 60 or more patients who were admitted with no beds available. The report also noted that the emergency room has 36 beds or chairs for patients, but there were more than 90 patients in emergency.
"I'm not the least bit surprised that that happened," said Tracy Zambory, president of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, in the CBC report.
"The phenomenon that brought us to having this contravention at Royal University Hospital is not new; it has been coming and happening for what almost seems like years now."
In the same report, John Ash, Saskatchewan Health Authority vice-president for integrated Saskatoon health, said that there have been more than 250 staff, as well as 40 more permanent in-patient beds, added in Saskatoon, though there is still more work that needs to be done.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were about 40 spaces that opened up in Saskatoon hospitals.
Both Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe and NDP Leader Carla Beck said that staffing in hospitals is a crucial solution to the problem, according to CBC.
