‘Emergency provisions,’ staff redeployment being explored as patients surge at Alberta Children’s Hospital

Alberta Health Services is exploring “emergency provisions” to redeploy staff at Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) to deal with an influx of patients in multiple units.

AHS says it is in preliminary discussions with United Nurses of Alberta, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and Health Sciences Association of Alberta.

The provisions have not yet been triggered, AHS tells CityNews.

“These measures are taken only as a last but necessary step to ensure we can continue to provide quality care to our patients,” AHS said in a statement.

“We are working closely with our union partners to help in redeploying staff if and when needed to meet the care needs of this vulnerable population.”

Influenza, RSV, COVID-19

The health authority says ACH is experiencing pressure in its pediatric intensive care unit, emergency department and inpatient units.

Officials say the staffing pressure is due to a surge in respiratory illness among children: influenza, RSV and COVID-19.

“The recent spike in respiratory illnesses circulating in the community and worldwide has meant a significant increase in Emergency visits and hospitalized patients,” continued the AHS statement.

Surgeries are still on track, according to AHS, with no planned capacity reductions.

Wait times around six hours on Sunday

AHS says daily visits to Alberta Children’s Hospital has recently increased by 20-30 per cent. Its inpatient capacity reached 100 per cent on Friday, and the pediatric ICU capacity is nearing 100 per cent.

The health authority says ACH and the Stollery in Edmonton are capable of accommodating patients above the 100 per cent normal capacity threshold.

“Our care teams are doing all they can to see and treat patients as efficiently as possible during this time.”

As of Sunday morning, wait times at ACH and the Peter Lougheed Centre were around six hours. The wait was four hours for Foothills ER.

The Calgary Board of Education says about eight per cent of students and staff are absent due to illness.

—With files from Tiffany Goodwein