Key takeaways:
- Only critical and emergent surgeries, including time-sensitive cancer surgeries, are resuming at this time.
- Nova Scotia Health stated patients will be reached straight if their procedures or appointments are postponed.
- It stated it is noticing an upsurge in the need for hospital beds.
The surgeries in Nova Scotia hospitals delayed due to shortages in staff:
An increasing need for emergency departments, increasing hospital admissions and staffing needs linked to COVID-19 have resulted in the postponement of dozens of surgeries and medical procedures in Nova Scotia.
The regional health authority stated Wednesday in a press release that only critical and emergent surgeries, including time-sensitive cancer surgeries, are resuming at this time. Ambulatory care clinics and procedures will concentrate on critical requirements only.
Diagnostic imaging and laboratory services are restarting and will not be impacted at this moment, according to the release.
Patients will be reached straight if their procedures or appointments are postponed.
Read more: Ontario male sentenced of cheating Nova Scotia town of about $500K
Nova Scotia Health stated around 600 staff and physicians were off work because of COVID-19 diseases or because they were recognised as a tight contact of a positive case.
The health authority also stated it is noticing more elevated than regular visits to emergency rooms and a more increased need for hospital beds.
Decreased staffing levels
Nova Scotia Health stated many hospitals in-patient teams are working with decreased staffing levels.
It stated there are around 355 hospital beds in the region occupied by patients who are awaiting placement in a long-term care facility or housing through the Department of Community Services.
