They say the surge is resulting in ‘significant’ wait times.
Factors impacting the situation include physician and nurse staffing levels and acutely ill patients waiting to be admitted to a hospital bed (when inpatient units are over capacity, the emergency department continues to provide care for patients waiting to be transferred). Also affecting the situation is strain on long-term care resources in the community, which delays the discharge of patients.
MooseFM reached out to Bancroft Hospital’s Patient Manager Tammy Davis, who confirmed that Bancroft is experiencing the same surges felt across the region.
A recent Quinte Health news release recognized that the wait times could be hard to navigate:
“We understand that this situation can be frustrating and inconvenient. If you do need to come to the hospital, please bring reading materials, activities for the kids, and anything you can think of to help pass the time.”
The media release says, “a lot has changed over the past couple (of) years, including unusual patterns of care need in our communities.”
Quinte Health say they continue to work with partners on many initiatives […] including proactive recruitment for emergency department physicians in a competitive market.
According to Stacey Daub, President and CEO, the need for care has never been greater.
“The pandemic, our growing and aging population, the immense growth in the number of patients and complexity of their care needs have all contributed to higher demand, challenging our capacity.
“We know it will take time for longer-term solutions to take root across our local health care system,” she adds. “In the meantime, we appreciate everyone’s cooperation, patience and preventative actions to stay well. The community’s kindness and support mean the world to our teams.”
Quinte Health provided the following alternatives for non-emergency medical care:
- Visit Health811: Available 24 hours a day to provide health advice, navigate health services, and offer information.
- Virtual care options: Utilize services like the East Region Virtual Care Clinic.
- Local pharmacies: Receive prescriptions for 19 common ailments including acid reflux, acne, cold sores, dermatitis, menstrual cramps, UTIs, and more.
For mental health emergencies:
- Contact the Crisis Intervention Centre toll free at 1-888-757-7766. On-site hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Telephone response by a crisis worker is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.This multi-disciplinary team is ready to respond to crisis calls and offer emergency mental health intervention.
- Quinte Health is a partner in delivering the national 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline – A safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call or text 9-8-8 toll-free anytime.
For more information about coming to the emergency departments, visit quintehealth.ca.
