Hundreds of services resume as majority of Sask. healthcare workers return to home units
After redeploying hundreds of healthcare workers to deal with the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all eligible staff are back working in their home departments, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
Staff deployed to contact tracing, testing and outbreak management were eligible for redeployment in phase one of the SHA’s service resumption plan. However, healthcare employees working in acute and intensive care as well as vaccination deliveries are not being sent back to their home departments yet.
“Those redeployments will remain in place where they are required to support surge capacity,” according to a press release from the SHA.
Derek Miller, emergency operations commander for the SHA, says officials are finalizing a phased plan to return the remaining staff.
“As we start to resume services we’re identifying that we don’t necessarily have the full staffing complement available and it’s impacting our service resumption,” Miller said, adding some healthcare workers are choosing to leave the field due to burnout.
Carolyn Brost Strom is a public health nurse in Prince Albert. She says she has contemplated quitting due to the stress of her job.
“Every time there is a new wave it pushes us down further and it’s harder to recover mentally and physically,” Strom said.
“I know we make a difference, so it is really tough to feel like you’re not valued and appreciated.”
Strom says the healthcare system is currently staffed to deal with the pandemic, adding staffing levels have improved in the last year. However, she says she is worried that will change once the pandemic is over and employees return to their regular jobs.
“I am quite worried what will happen when this is all over. Everyone is going to be so tired,” she said.
On Sept. 1, the SHA slowed 395 services to deal with the fourth wave.
As of Nov. 26, 257 of those services have fully resumed and 59 have partially resumed, including the organ donation program.
All organ donation staff have returned to their units, allowing those services to resume, according to the release. However, staffing vacancies in Saskatoon are preventing a full resumption of services in that area.
At the beginning of November, the provincial government announced its plan to return 90 per cent of eligible SHA staff to their home positions by the end of the month.
SURGERY BACKLOG STILL NEEDS TO BE TACKLED
Roughly 36,000 patients are waiting for surgeries, according to the SHA, and about half of those are for procedures like knee and hip replacements as well as cataracts.
Surgical services are increasing across the province. However, officials say regional centres are progressing faster than tertiary surgical sites.
All surgical procedures have been restored in several regions including Prince Albert, Lloydminster, Estevan, Weyburn and Kindersley. Seventy-five per cent of surgical services have been restored in Moose Jaw and Swift Current.
Saskatoon has reached 80 per cent and Regina is at 60 per cent.
According to the SHA, surgical reopening in Regina and Saskatoon are delayed due to the high number of COVID-19 admissions in those cities.
Officials say “longstanding” nursing vacancies in Regina’s operating department will impact how quickly surgeries can resume fully.
“There are approximately 20 vacant positions in the OR in Regina,” according a press release by the SHA.
“Even with redeployed staff back, resumption to 100 per cent will take time.”
Miller says the SHA is working with the Ministry of Health to find ways to boost staffing levels, which includes hiring out of province.
“The challenge right now is everyone in Canada and North America is similar. They are all looking for specialized nurses in the ICU,” said health minister Paul Merriman.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.