By Angela Hill

Victoria Hospital is over capacity

Jan 6, 2011 | 9:59 AM

The Victoria Hospital is over capacity due to an influx of people and a backlog of patients waiting to access long-term care.

“We are about 10 people over capacity in the tower and we have about the same sitting in emergency waiting for beds,” said Carol Gregoryk, vice-president integrated health services for the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.

This means some patients in the wards are being treated in the hallways and the wait in the emergency department is long.

Emergency department staff are treating patients with life-threatening and serious health concerns first.

People who arrive at the department with non-emergency issues or non-urgent health concerns will have to wait before being seen, Gregoryk said.

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The current wait time is between two and six hours for those issues, she said.

People with issues such as sprains, strains, colds or minor cuts are being asked to visit a clinic or their family doctor, instead of the emergency room.

“Something that can easily be seen, even minor cuts that can be sutured up in a minor emergency clinic, they need to go there,” Gregoryk said.

The backlog is also causing surgeries to be cancelled. Today two people had their surgieries cancelled before noon.

Suggestions to avoid the emergency department:

 People with non-emergent injuries and illnesses are recommended to go to a walk-in clinic or family physician. 

People who are struggling to manage the health care issue of a family or friend at home, are recommended to contact Home Care in Prince Albert at 765-2450 or their local Home Care office for assessment and assistance

If people have questions about a health concern they can call the Healthline, at 1-8777-800-0002

For more information visit the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region website

ahill@panow.com