Alberta Children’s Hospital adds beds amid waves of respiratory virus patients [Video]

An influx of children sick with respiratory viruses is putting pressure on the Alberta Children’s Hospital, which has brought in extra beds to meet the increased demand.

“The wait times in the ER are going to be longer because it’s just busy; it’s more crowded,” said Dr. Sidd Thakore, a pediatrician at the ACH.

“There are no beds available, so you’re waiting for discharge to happen, so patients are waiting longer in the ER until they find a bed, and we’re finding our ICU is also quite full now, too.

“So, it’s kind of everything being pushed to the brink at the present time.”

Alberta Health Services (AHS) said a total of 37 overcapacity and surge beds have been added to “proactively address seasonal demand.”

The Peter Lougheed Centre is also supporting pediatric capacity, bumping its normal bed count to 18 from 12.

“We’re working extra shifts to bring in …