Effect of health-care slowdown worries SHA

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is in the middle of putting the brakes on most surgeries and services in the province to try to make enough room for COVID-19 patients today and in the near future.

Any surgeries that aren’t emergencies, that aren’t to deal with cancer, or aren’t six weeks urgent are being postponed. Dr. Susan Shaw, the SHA’s chief medical officer, said the authority recognizes that just because a surgery is deemed elective doesn’t mean it’s unnecessary.

“We really do worry a lot and recognize the burden this is creating on so many people,” said Shaw.

The authority has set a goal in the next few weeks of having enough space and resources for 125 ICU COVID-19 patients and 350 acute care COVID-19 patients. Currently, 36 adult medicine beds have been added in Saskatoon and 22 in Regina.

Derek Miller, the SHA’s emergency operations centre commander, said Saskatchewan’s 30 hospitals are caring for more than 200 acute care, non-ICU COVID-19 patients.

“That is why service slowdowns are so important to our surge response. We need our current spaces and staff to be able to care for COVID patients while maintaining safe care for our incoming non-COVID patients,” explained Miller.

The authority is seeing demand for COVID care shifting from Saskatoon and the north to include rural areas and Regina, which is why Miller said a provincial response is important.

It’s not just surgeries and procedures in hospitals which are slowing things down.

“There are many other services in the community and primary health-care and other outpatient services that are also being slowed as part of this in order to free up staff so that they can be deployed, perhaps, into acute care but then also into our testing sites, (and to) support vaccine, contact tracing and those types of COVID services in order to keep up with demand,” said Miller.

According to the health authority the full and partial slowdowns include:

– Primary care – diabetes education, health counsellors, chronic disease management
– Home care – education, therapies, foot care, wound care, nursing supports
– Population and Public Health – dental health programs, health promotion, sexual health clinics
– Rehabilitation Services
– Cardiosciences and Neurosciences – outpatient clinics including heart function and stroke prevention clinics, stress tests, pulmonary function lab
– Maternal and Children’s Outpatient Services – Women’s Health Centre, pediatric outpatients
– Geriatric Services, including respite care
– Dermatology services
– Ambulatory Care – eye centre, minor surgical procedures, cystoscopy, endoscopy,

Shaw said this would all have been manageable if everyone would get vaccinated.

“Instead we are facing service slowdowns … and this is having a real impact on the quality of life and health for many across Saskatchewan, and it will result in real harm,” said Shaw.

If this continues, Shaw said the lifesaving supports everyone in the province relies on will be in danger.

However, Shaw is urging people not to stay away from the hospital if they need help.

“I really don’t want anyone to stay away if they’re having a major illness or a sudden change in their health … We want to be there. We are there for you. It’s very safe to come in and have care inside our hospitals and emergency rooms,” said Shaw.