HEALTH CARE BOOST
But $90M won’t ease crunch
It has been a long, crowded summer at Queensway Carleton Hospital and it seems unlikely this week’s provincial announcement of money to “end hallway health care” is going to offer much relief.
Unlike most years, patient volume never went down at Queensway Carleton over the summer. As a result, day surgeries had to be cancelled several times, which is rare in the summer, and the hospital saw its highest ever volume of ALC patients — filling 57 of 103 beds. (ALC or alternate level of care patients no longer require acute care but cannot leave hospital until they have somewhere else to go, creating a backlog).
“When we have a surge in the summertime, how we are going to manage the flu surge coming up?” asked Leah Levesque, vicepresident of patient care at the hospital. “That is what keeps us awake at night.”
The Ontario government announced $90 million in funding this week for 640 new beds and spaces to help hospitals cope with the flu season as part of its pledge to end hallway medicine. It is also extending temporary surge beds at some hospitals. But it is unclear how much relief that will offer overcapacity Queensway Carleton.
Last winter, the then Liberal government opened about 1,200 temporary beds and other spaces to ease hospital overcrowding during flu season, traditionally the busiest time of the year.
Of that money, Queensway Carleton received funding to open 10 beds. It added another nine new beds, using hospital dollars designated for other things, including equipment.
The funding was initially temporary. Still, the hospital chose to keep them open during the summer to deal with ongoing overcapacity. It was told recently by the province that funding for 10 beds would be extended for two more years.
It seems that funding extension was part of this week’s announcement, but it is unclear whether the hospital will receive any more surge money from the province. Even if Queensway Carleton receives extra money to pay for the additional nine beds it has been keeping open without provincial support, the hospital would be no better off than it is now. That sets the stage for a potential overcrowding crisis during flu season.
“Even if they gave us $20 million. It is not that we don’t appreciate the money. We just have no physical space,” said Levesque. “We have used every unconventional space.” That includes setting up beds in a CT scan waiting area. She said there is an unfinished part of the hospital that, with money to quickly finish it, could hold 35 more beds and make a huge difference to the hospital.
Queensway Carleton’s situation is urgent — especially with an aging population and rapid population growth in western and southern parts of the city — but it is far from alone.
The Ottawa Hospital was at 104-per-cent capacity on Thursday, according to its website, with 42 patients in the emergency department waiting for beds on wards and 155 alternate level of care patients.
Wednesday’s provincial announcement, which included 6,000 new long-term care beds, was welcomed by the Ontario Hospital Association.
“The investment is very welcome news because it gives hospitals the extra flexibility they needs to navigate the flu season,” said Ontario Hospital Association president Anthony Dale, calling the announcement an excellent contingency plan and short-term effort.
The $90 million in hospital funding includes $35 million to extend funding for temporary surge beds in provincial “hot spots,” Dale said.
That likely includes the money for Queensway Carleton’s 10 beds. It is unclear whether The Ottawa Hospital’s surge-bed funding has also been extended. Last year it received money for 65 surge beds.
In addition, the province will spend $29 million on temporary health centres or units for alternate level of care patients. The province has also committed to $26 million in “standby dollars,” Dale said. That amounts to an additional 350 beds that can be opened during the winter based on need.
“I think that is a very wise and prudent thing to do.
“We need standby capacity, depending on how the flu season unfolds.”
The province also announced members of the Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine, headed by Dr. Rueven Devlin. Dr. Jack Kitts, chief executive of The Ottawa Hospital, has been named a member of the board.
Even if they gave us $20 million. It is not that we don’t appreciate the money. We just have no physical space.