Alberta Health Services looking out of province for ICU beds, staff – CBC
Number of COVID patients in intensive care up by 29 per cent in past week
Sep 15, 2021
The province is now looking outside of its borders for additional ICU beds and staff to help treat the surging number of COVID-19 cases in Alberta.
During a news conference Wednesday evening, Alberta Health Services president and CEO Dr. Verna Yiu said there were few options left on the table.
“We are facing our greatest challenge as a provincial health-care organization at a time when most of us had hoped that this pandemic would be close to over,” Yiu said.
Across Alberta there were 270 patients in intensive care Tuesday — the highest number ever, Yiu said. She added that capacity was at 88 per cent full.
“That is taking into account the additional 132 surge spaces that we have opened to meet demand. Without those spaces, we would be at 156 per cent of our normal capacity,” she said.
“There would not be enough ICU beds for those that need them.”
Yiu said AHS will ask if if other provinces may be able to take ICU patients who need care, or spare staff that can work in intensive care units.
