Wait times building at Hamilton hospitals as flu and COVID cases rise

The increasing number of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 cases is building more pressure on the Hamilton Health Sciences' hospitals amid the ongoing staff shortages and an already high influx of patients.

Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu, chief of emergency medicine at HHS, said the hospitals' emergency departments are starting to see a real increase in the upper respiratory tract infections and lower tract infections."

He said that the emergency departments already have high wait times and one way that we can decrease the capacity (is to) actually decrease the number of people from getting sick ... (and) get a flu shot."

Many patients are waiting more than 18 hours in the emergency department (ED) overall, while the first assessment by a doctor could take over two hours.

The emergency department is one point of entry into the entire health-care system that is currently congested with patients requiring acute care, patients that need long-term care, and those coming to the hospital with sicknesses like severe flu.

Sidhu said the hospital was barely getting by through the leaner times like summer" with the continued level of occupancy at the hospital.

Now, when you put more demands on the health care system, typically with illnesses and hospitalizations with flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ... there (will be) emergency department visits throughout early winter and winter time," he said.

Public Health Ontario reported a higher overall assessment of influenza in Ontario during the week of Oct. 16 and October 22. During the same period last year in October, influenza cases were exceptionally low" with almost all regions in Canada reporting no influenza activity." Masks were mandatory in many indoor locations at that time.

The latest forecast estimates 553 new hospital admissions for COVID from Sept. 19 to Dec. 31 compared to its last estimate of 495 from Aug. 31 to Dec. 31. Both are up from an August forecast of 323.

We're trying to get all hands on deck to try to create capacity," said Sidhu, urging people to get their flu shots as a way of preventing the spread. Things that we did were successful in controlling COVID and would be successful in controlling (the spread of) RSV and flu ... put on a mask and wash your hands (more often) if you've got a cough or cold."

While the flu season has increased pressure on the hospital, HHS in its release, noted patients will longer wait times because they simply have no more slack in the system." The hospital is seeing an overwhelming patient capacity, staff and doctor shortages and not enough in-patient beds for patients in the emergency department.

Sidhu said the hospital is working with the government to increase its capacity with additional beds, which will be an immense" help.

We're trying to discharge patients to alternative levels of care ... But on top of that, there is a higher number of people that are coming in sicker, whether from delayed or cancelled care with more complications."

Currently, 100 per cent of the provincially-funded beds are full day-to-day, while the hospital has made an additional 60 to 80 unfunded beds available to deal with the influx.

HHS cited health care worker retirements over the years and staffing pressures during the pandemic as reasons for shortages. In the emergency department, staffing fluctuates on a day-to-day basis. Sidhu said that not every day is short-staffed but some days are really challenging with a few sick calls."

Despite frequent fluctuations, HHS' resuscitation and trauma centres are always fully staffed.

We move our staff around and make sure the highest acuity patients get the highest level of care," he said.

Although the health-care system is clogged with many problems, Sidhu said people should still visit the emergency department if they're in a need of emergency care.

Emergency departments are open. You should go to the emergency department and you will be triaged as assessed, and we'll see patients in the order of severity," he said.

For those trying to avoid an ER visit, Sidhu said, they should look at other health care options like Health Connect Ontario at 811 to get health advice from a registered nurse.

With files from Joanna Frketich

Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com