Capital Health seeing ER patient surge

Hospital emergency rooms in Halifax are facing an increase in patient loads, but the local health authority says the reason isn't clear.

Capital Health says the Queen Elizabeth II hospital is seeing 20 to 30 more patients per day coming into the ER than at this time last year.

In fact, the number of ER patients has been steadily increasing over the course of the past year in Halifax and at Dartmouth General hospital.

Barbara Hall, vice president of person-centered health, said there isn't a specific trend or reason for the increase that staff can identify right now.

Hall acknowledges it is causing problems.

"We don't have an ability to open more capacity when we get busy. We've been pretty tight for a long time, so then when you get what we're seeing now that just adds to it. It's simple math — you've got more people coming in the door, we're having trouble getting people out the door, so we have bottlenecks at a couple of different locations," said Hall.

She said waits vary depending on what an individual's condition is.

"We like to think that we are still able to see the sickest as soon as possible, however if on a triage level you aren't rated as high you are experiencing longer waits," said Hall.

The situation also means paramedics are spending more time in the ER as they wait with patients, rather than head back out on the streets.

Capital Health is working within the emergency department to try to make improvements.

They have extra staff on hand and some beds that are closed overnight or on weekends are being kept open. A rapid assessment unit that works Monday to Friday was kept working through last weekend so more individuals could be seen.

Hall said the problem has been compounded by admitted patients who are taking up ER beds, while they wait for a bed on a unit.

She said the health authority is looking at converting some private rooms back to double rooms if it has to, but that would seem like a step backwards in terms of infection control.

If the trend continues, Hall said Capital Health will have to work with the province to come up with a long term strategy.