The emergency department at St. Paul’s Hospital is so full its turning to the ambulatory unit.
The ambulatory care unit is designed for patients needing same-day, minor procedures. It’s now taken over by emergency patients.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said it’s a temporary solution to the hospital’s surge in patients.
“It’s a gong show,” Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) President Tracy Zambory told CTV News.
“It’s a huge capacity issue. We’re taking over ambulatory care. And what happens to people in ambulatory care?”
Zambory said “pushing people” to different departments doesn’t make “any sense.”
The SHA said St. Paul’s Hospital is operating at 115 per cent capacity.
“So that’s quite full,” John Ash, SHA vice-president of integrated Saskatoon health, said.
On Tuesday, the decision was made to use its 14 ambulatory care beds for emergency …