Probe launched after yet another patient dies in N.B. hospital emergency department
Global News
New Brunswick's Vitalité Health Network said a patient died while awaiting care Wednesday in the emergency department of the Edmundston Regional Hospital.
Another New Brunswick hospital has confirmed a patient death in its emergency department, as the province grapples with capacity issues in the health-care system.
Vitalité Health Network said the patient died at the Edmundston Regional Hospital on Wednesday.
In a statement, Vitalité said its president and CEO, Dr. France Desrosiers, was “saddened by this turn of events” and that an analysis is underway to “determine what happened and make any required improvements.”
“She also thanked the Emergency Department team members for their exemplary dedication and assured them of her full support,” said Vitalité.
When asked about this latest ER death at the legislature in Fredericton on Thursday, Health Minister Bruce Fitch told reporters the severity of illness among patients arriving at the ER has been difficult to manage.
“The acuity of patients showing up at the emergency room is getting greater and greater and that is causing some of the backlog, but know there are many, many things we are doing to alleviate pressures,” he said.
“I met with the CEOs and trustees yesterday and we discussed this matter amongst a number of other matters of importance to the health-care system. And that is one of the pieces of information (I received), is the level of acuity that people are presenting themselves to the ER is very, very high and some of the outcomes are unavoidable.”
He added that the regional health authorities (RHA) in the province have been tasked with making improvements to staff recruitment, patient flow and opening beds, and that government is doing the best it can to address the crisis in health care.
