Doctors describe 'crumbling' health system as Alberta bolsters recruitment efforts
CTV
With intensive-care capacity in Alberta hospitals nearing capacity and emergency room wait times hitting double-digits hours, doctors are sounding the alarm that the province's health system is failing and will only get worse as the respiratory virus season progresses.
With intensive-care capacity in Alberta hospitals nearing capacity and emergency room wait times hitting double-digits hours, doctors are sounding the alarm that the province's health system is failing and will only get worse as the respiratory virus season progresses.
Alberta ICUs are at 92 per cent capacity with 206 patients in care, a number last reached in December last year.
The average ICU capacity number since November 2022 is 81 per cent, an average of 182 patients. Occupancy has been climbing steadily over the last four weeks, from 78 per cent on Oct. 24 to 92 per cent on Nov. 21.
When presented with the latest ICU and ER statistics, Health Minister Adrianna LaGrange told CTV News Edmonton she is in constant contact with Alberta Health Services and is monitoring the situation closely.
"Right now, we do have capacity, and they are able to shift capacity as it is needed, but we obviously need to keep a very close eye on it," LaGrange said, adding the province has the beds, staff and equipment to increase surge capacity if needed.
The increase in ICU and ER numbers comes as doctors across Alberta share concerns about the state of the province's hospital system.
Dr. Steven Fisher, an ER physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in central Edmonton, said the situation is the worst he's seen and considers it "a disaster."
