Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone. (Keenan Sorokan/650 CKOM)

By Jeff D’Andrea

covid-19

SHA facing ‘challenges’ in finding enough ICU personnel to meet Surge Plan goals

Dec 17, 2020 | 5:01 PM

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced in Thursday’s press conference it may not have enough highly-trained personnel to achieve all the goals set out in its Surge Plan.

One of the province’s goals was to increase intensive care unit capacity specifically for COVID-19 patients by 64 beds by mid-December. SHA Emergency Operations Centre lead Derek Miller said finding enough highly-trained personnel to make that happen is the authority’s biggest challenge — especially in the North and Saskatoon.

In Regina and rural areas, that target could be met, but Miller added it could be put in jeopardy should healthcare workers assigned to the ICU be required to isolate due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

“We’ve struggled in our human resource and staffing,” Miller said about extending the ICU capacity. “While we have the beds and space and equipment and ventilators and oxygen for that number, actually bringing in the highly-trained staff to do that is a challenge.”

Miller said the SHA would be able to meet their goal of expanding their inpatient hospitalizations by 250, but not without their resources being “stretched thin.”

RPCN Artist

'Felt like a movie': Chris Chipak making waves in the art world

12h ago

Russia-Ukraine War

In a first, President Biden gives green light for Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles in Russia

Nov 17, 2024

Riderville

Shades of 2007

Nov 15, 2024

As more outbreaks arise throughout the province, more and more healthcare workers have been forced to self-isolate either due to being a close contact or contracting COVID-19 themselves.

Although he didn’t immediately have a specific number of how many healthcare workers were self-isolating, SHA CEO Scott Livingstone said the figure was large enough to have a “dramatic impact” on the healthcare system.

“One of the single biggest challenges we’re facing is the number of staff being taken out of service because they’re either COVID positive or have been exposed and are a close contact,” Livingstone said. “This has had a significant impact as it’s contributed to slowdowns across the province, but also contributes to our challenge of providing support where outbreaks are occurring.”

With the holiday season just around the corner, Livingstone urged the public to stay inside to stop the spread.

“We know that there are many out there who are vulnerable citizens at risk of getting COVID-19. We know that there are lives on the line,” Livingstone said. “So please, when you think about what you have to give up this Christmas, think of it as a gift for someone who will get to experience the next Christmas, because you’ve helped save their life.”

Details on the SHA’s updated surge planning can be found here.

–

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW