Regina, Saskatoon hospitals still under ‘tremendous’ pressure: health minister – CBC

Wards in city hospitals strained by ‘seasonal influxes’ on top of COVID-19, says Paul Merriman

May 06, 2022

Units in Saskatoon and Regina hospitals are still experiencing an “extended” amount of pressure, as they continue to operate well above capacity, the province’s health minister says.

Unlike earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, though, it’s not the intensive care units that are bursting at the seams, but the other areas of the facilities.

Health Minister Paul Merriman acknowledged there are “tremendous pressures” on Saskatoon and Regina medicine beds, which are used for patients who require extra care during recovery after a procedure or emergency treatment.

Hospitals in the two cities have been operating at or over 100 per cent capacity on the medicine units and there are backlogs throughout the system.

“It is at an extended high level. We’re hopeful it’s starting to come down,” Merriman said Thursday at the Saskatchewan Legislature.

“We’re seeing some seasonal influxes as well as what’s layered on top of the existing COVID problems within our health-care system.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-medicine-bed-shortage-1.6442955