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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ontario-icus-adding-beds-but-will-it-help-1.5985771
Ontario is adding hundreds of ICU beds. But does it have the resources to support them?
Province has touted more beds as a way to help hospitals. But experts say beds alone won?t help
Farrah Merali ? CBC News ? Posted: Apr 14, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 6 hours ago
As ICU admissions continue to soar in Ontario, critical care doctors and nurses are warning that the province's plan to add hundreds of new critical care beds alone will not improve the situation they're currently facing in this deadly third wave of the pandemic. Staff say rising ICU admissions are pushing the system to the brink ? a system they say was already stretched thin before COVID-19 hit.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said on Monday the province is taking steps to create more capacity in hospitals by redeploying staff, postponing elective surgeries and transferring patients when she was asked about the alarming increase in ICU admissions in Ontario because of COVID-19 cases.
"By the end of this week we anticipate creating 350 net new spots," said Elliott. She said the plan is to ultimately free up between 700 and 1,000 beds.
"We are creating capacity and we are making sure that every Ontarian who needs an intensive care bed will get one."
But medical staff who work in ICU units say each new bed requires a host of resources ? including specialized trained staff ? that simply aren't available quickly...
Ontario is adding hundreds of ICU beds. But does it have the resources to support them?
Province has touted more beds as a way to help hospitals. But experts say beds alone won?t help
Farrah Merali ? CBC News ? Posted: Apr 14, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 6 hours ago
As ICU admissions continue to soar in Ontario, critical care doctors and nurses are warning that the province's plan to add hundreds of new critical care beds alone will not improve the situation they're currently facing in this deadly third wave of the pandemic. Staff say rising ICU admissions are pushing the system to the brink ? a system they say was already stretched thin before COVID-19 hit.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said on Monday the province is taking steps to create more capacity in hospitals by redeploying staff, postponing elective surgeries and transferring patients when she was asked about the alarming increase in ICU admissions in Ontario because of COVID-19 cases.
"By the end of this week we anticipate creating 350 net new spots," said Elliott. She said the plan is to ultimately free up between 700 and 1,000 beds.
"We are creating capacity and we are making sure that every Ontarian who needs an intensive care bed will get one."
But medical staff who work in ICU units say each new bed requires a host of resources ? including specialized trained staff ? that simply aren't available quickly...