December 13, 2023
Canada’s pediatric hospitals and the doctors who work in them are raising concerns about the spike in sick kids filling up emergency rooms and hospital beds amid the current respiratory season. Some are urging parents to keep their kids at home, depending on what symptoms they are showing.
In just the past week, health officials in Alberta and Quebec have noted capacity issues at their hospitals, with the president of the Alberta Medical Association, Dr. Paul Parks, saying there were “a lot of kids being hospitalized.” Parks says their hospitals are overflowing at 150-per cent capacity, with ICUs almost full
This week, Ontario Hospital Association President Anthony Dale said in a news release that the province’s facilities are seeing evidence of COVID-19, RSV and the flu creating a surge, with occupancy in the province sitting at 97.8 per cent and intensive care at 75.8 per cent as of Dec. 3. In addition, as of Nov. 30 Dale said that pediatric ICU occupancy was at 76 per cent.
Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/10165015/canada-children-hospitals-surge-wait-times-sick-kids/