Prince County Hospital woes take centre stage as P.E.I. legislature resumes
CBC
On a day when the Speaker asked all three parties to try again to find consensus on how to divvy up debate time in the P.E.I. legislature, the Liberals, Greens and even backbench PC MLAs found one thing they could agree on: the beleaguered state of P.E.I.'s health-care system, and especially Prince County Hospital in Summerside.
The PCH was the focus of the first question period of the new sitting, with MLAs from all three parties weighing in.
"It should come as no surprise, Madame Speaker, after the experience I've had at the doors that the number-one topic that I heard was the Prince County Hospital," said Matt MacFarlane, making his first appearance in the legislature since winning a byelection in District 19 for the Greens three weeks ago.
The intensive care unit at the PCH was closed almost a year ago because of a shortage of internal medicine specialists, and transitioned into a progressive care unit.
The capacity of that unit was cut even further last month.
MacFarlane said the hospital is now struggling to maintain the nursing staff it would need in order for the ICU to reopen.
"A year ago, the vacancy rate for critical-care nurses was sitting at around 10 per cent," MacFarlane told the legislature.
"Now, it's between 65 and 70 per cent vacancy rates, and those who remain are exhausted, demoralized, and wondering how much longer they can carry on in their jobs."
Health Minister Mark McLane said the province has hired three critical care nurses since January, while acknowledging that "it's not enough."
He said the province's latest recruitment trip overseas has led to up to 45 job offers for internationally trained nurses, but added that's also "probably not a solution."
McLane mentioned a new government grant program for skill development within the health-care industry announced Monday, saying: "Critical-care nursing and high-acuity nursing [are] in demand, and we'll continue to try to fill the gap when we can."
He also said the province has hired another external recruitment firm — making the total now at least six — and said an internal medicine specialist has signed on to work at PCH. The hospital has four current vacancies.
Two weeks ago, McLane told CBC News the government unit in charge of health-care recruitment is also missing about half its staff.
"We all know, as my colleagues just told us, that our health-care system is at an all-time low," said PC backbench MLA Tyler DesRoches said. He said residents around his constituency, which is home to the PCH, were bearing the brunt of the challenges because of the struggles at the hospital.
More Albertans are waiting longer than clinically recommended for critical cardiac and cancer surgeries, sparking concern among health experts and calls for urgent action.
There have been four collisions involving transport trucks in northwestern Ontario in three days, prompting renewed calls for action to address ongoing safety concerns along Highway 11-17.
Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives will huddle behind closed doors at a policy convention this weekend as some Tories question the party’s direction after nearly eight years in power.
The father of a three-year-old girl that was killed after being struck by a vehicle in Cambridge in mid-December says recent charges laid to the driver bring little comfort and relief.
The start of kindergarten can be a time of excitement or anxiety for parents, guardians and children — and also for Prince Edward Island's education officials as they try to staff schools appropriately.
Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation (NNC)’s proposed hydro project is facing some backlash in Pangnirtung.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will take to the stage Friday for what could be one of the most important speeches of his political career as he tries to convince delegates at the party's Calgary convention to keep him in the job.
As his flight departed from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport en route to Kuwait via Istanbul, Canadian crypto fugitive Andean Medjedovic was unaware that his globe-trotting lifestyle would soon be halted.
One of the largest taxi companies in Toronto will be down to three wheelchair-accessible cabs by the end of March, as advocates and providers say the city is failing to support accessible taxi drivers.
As a deep freeze continues to envelop southwestern Ontario at the same time municipalities deal with a pressing shortage of road salt, there's a renewed focus on finding different ways to melt road ice.
Dave Lawson is a proud Canadian who has bumper stickers that say "Canada is not for sale." He's fed up with grocery products plastered with maple leaves and patriotic logos that turn out to be American imports.
The Town of Badger has issued an evacuation order for some residents as water levels on the Exploits River continue to rise.
The head of a national seniors' advocacy organization says protecting nursing home residents from sexual abuse is an important but challenging issue.