Ontario is adding hundreds of ICU beds. But does it have the resources to support them? – CBC

Province has touted more beds as a way to help hospitals. But experts say beds alone won’t help

Apr 14, 2021

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.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ontario-icus-adding-beds-but-will-it-help-1.5985771

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