Elective surgeries in Manitoba could be cancelled if strain on hospitals worsens: Shared Health

The organization that oversees health care in Manitoba is warning some services may need to be cancelled if capacity issues in the province’s hospitals continue.

Shared Health CEO Lanette Siragusa says they are monitoring the situation.

“Its not ideal but it would be where we would have to go next – looking at elective surgery and potentially ambulatory clinics if we need to expand, so we are watching very closely,” she said.

There are approximately 100 people in intensive care units, according to Siragusa, with 30 per cent of patients suffering from respiratory viruses.

The latest data from the province shows between Dec. 10 and Dec. 16, there were 2,200 respiratory visits to emergency departments, which is forcing hospitals to stretch already limited resources even further.

“All areas are feeling the pressure so we’re looking at how to prioritize our work so that we can take care of our sickest and most complex patients,” Siragusa told CityNews.

Last weekend Dr. Brent Roussin issued a warning about the latest surge of respiratory viruses in Manitoba and its impact on the health-care system. Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer said ICUs are at capacity and warned the peak of this year’s respiratory virus season is likely still to come.

“We had so many capacity issues going into this respiratory season, so the strain felt has been significant,” Roussin said Saturday.

He urged Manitobans to get vaccinated and made an appeal for health-care staff to consider taking extra shifts.

Siragusa confirms Shared Health put out a call for staff to volunteer and pick up shifts in the ICU to try to address the uptick in cases.

‘Help is needed everywhere’

It’s a measure the president of the Manitoba Nurses’ Union fully understands, but also questions the sustainability of asking more from an already taxed health-care workforce.

“We all understand that you have to go help where help is needed, but unfortunately with this critical nursing shortage, help is needed everywhere,” said Darlene Jackson.

Jackson says she has already heard from numerous nurses who feel uncomfortable with the workload they are currently facing, which she says has only gotten worse with the pandemic.

“Nurses came out of COVID burnt out and continue to be burnt out, continue to be mandated, continue to be working overtime and picking up extra shifts to hold this system together,” she said. “It feels like nurses have had no respite for the past three to four years.”