Doctors warn of growing overcrowding crisis at Abbotsford Regional Hospital

After working a long shift at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Dr. Susan Cooper says she often leaves the facility carrying the weight of moral distress. 

The kidney specialist says she thinks about the patients in the overcrowded emergency room, many waiting several hours — even days — on stretchers and recliner chairs, with little to no privacy.

"My heart is broken," says Cooper, who has worked at the Fraser Valley's largest hospital for almost 15 years. "These are not conditions you would expect to see in a developed country."

Her concerns are echoed by several of her colleagues, who say they feel demoralized due to worsening congestion at the hospital, where patients are routinely treated in hallways in most wards.

Abbotsford Regional Hospital, located about 65 kilometres east of downtown Vancouver, has been operating at 128 per cent capacity over the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to data provided by the Ministry of Health.

That figure exceeds other major hospitals in British Columbia's Lower Mainland — including Royal Columbian, Surrey Memorial and Vancouver General — and has steadily risen since 2019-20. 

"Our hospital is just in crisis, bursting at the seams," said Dr. Terry Leung, a general surgeon who has worked at Abbotsford Regional for 13 years. 

"Morally, it's hard because I feel like sometimes maybe it is better off that my patients go somewhere else. Maybe they would get faster care."

There's particular concern about congestion in the emergency department and medical wards, where patients are admitted with complex and chronic medical concerns including heart and lung diseases, neurological conditions, cancer and kidney issues. 

Doctors say the congestion is getting worse for several reasons, including not enough beds or space, staffing shortages, and a growing and aging population in the Fraser Valley.

Fraser Health, the regional health authority, says there are also surges in winter months due to factors including respiratory illnesses and accidents.

Doctors are calling for resources including more beds and space, and for leadership to better address what they describe as a "crisis" for patient care in their hospital. Ultimately, they say, congestion challenges are compromising patient privacy, safety and dignity. 

"I just feel that nothing's being done," said Cooper, who added that she's had multiple meetings with regional and provincial health leaders.             

Fraser Health says it fully recognizes the strain that wait times and congestion are causing and is working on several ways to improve staffing, congestion and equipment at the hospital.