Months-long crisis at McMaster Children’s Hospital stabilizing, HHS says
McMaster Children's Hospital says pressure on its pediatric health-care services is levelling off as fewer kids and youth are admitted to hospital for viral infections and other illnesses.
The situation at MCH has indeed stabilized at the present time," Hamilton Health Sciences spokesperson Patrice Cloutier said Dec. 28, days after Boxing Day, which is typically one of the busiest days of the year for pediatric emergency departments.
There are fewer visits to (the emergency department) and less admissions than a few weeks ago."
This is a shift from the months-long crisis spurred by a surge in respiratory infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, COVID-19 and other viral illnesses, that has overwhelmed the west Hamilton children's hospital. Despite $1.3 million in provincial funding to expand services, McMaster Children's Hospital has reported running out of cribs and doubling up critically ill kids in rooms meant for one, reaching an occupancy of between 130 and 140 per cent in November.
As of Dec. 28, the pediatric occupancy rate was 107 per cent - down from 108 per cent Dec. 22 in its pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Anything over 100 per cent requires making unfunded beds available and finding a way to staff them.
Cloutier attributes the optimistic change to the waning" surge in RSV in children.
However, other influenza-like illnesses are still present in the community and that is reflected in our (emergency department) volumes," he said.
But, Cloutier said, declining numbers don't paint a full picture."
Many of the young children admitted with respiratory illnesses are very sick and require sustained care, which keeps the demands on our teams at a very high level at a time when staffing challenges remain a daily concern," he said.
This means there's very little respite" for doctors, nurses and other hospital staff during the holiday season.
Cloutier said McMaster Children's Hospital anticipates it will continue to see patients with flu and flu-like illnesses for a few more weeks."
The hospital is encouraging families to get vaccinated, wear a mask and remain vigilant" over the holidays.
Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com