By Sarah Rolles

Victoria Hospital continues to experience overcapacity

Nov 23, 2015 | 11:20 AM

Overcapacity continues to be an issue at the Victoria Hospital.

During the weekend, the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region (PAPHR) issued a release notifying the public that the hospital was experiencing a significant overcapacity in their inpatient units.           

Carol Gregoryk, vice-president of integrated health services for the PAPHR, said it is not unusual for the hospital to experience an influx of visitors during the fall and winter months.

She said it is protocol to notify the public of overcrowding issues once they hit an overcapacity of approximately 10 people.

“Yes, we do usually end up in overcapacity in the fall, October, November and it usually lasts until February,” she said. “From slips,  trips on the ice, falls at home that have resulted in a fracture, some chronic disease, infections, cardiac, stroke,  there isn’t any one theme, it’s just people are really quite ill when they come to us or have had an accident of sorts requiring repair and as a result we were 21 people over capacity this weekend.

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“This overcapacity is probably the worst we have ever been.”

As a result of the overcapacity Gregoryk said they brought on extra staff and expanded their care efforts into units that are usually closed during the weekend.

“We manage that (influx) by expanding into closed units such as our day surgery unit which is open Monday to Friday,” she said.

Part of the reoccurring influx Gregoryk attributes to the large area that the PAPHR cares for and the large number of referrals they receive from neighbouring health regions.

Patients with less urgent issues are encouraged to seek appointments with their primary care provider or go to a walk-in clinic.

“Everybody’s emergency is an emergency from their perspective but on the scale of emergencies the heart attacks, strokes, the accidents where there is multiple injuries, concussions, all those type of things need to be here,” said Gregoryk. “It’s not like we are saying don’t come.

“If you need to be here, we want you here, but it’s the more minor things like: small cuts, or prescription refills, or if you are not sure about pills, or you might have something that you think is infected. All of those types of things can be managed by walk in clinics or your family physician or nurse practitioner.”

Walk-in clinic information is available at the Prince Albert Parkland Heath Region’s website.

If people have questions about a health concern they are encouraged to call the Healthline, at 1-8777-800-0002.

srolles@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow