Whitehorse hospital overcrowding requires 'difficult decisions', officials say

Yukon's Chief of Medical Staff says nurses and doctors "are alarmed that we have to make these difficult decisions," when it comes to transferring patients to rural hospitals.

But Dr. WayneMacNicol says it's the onlyoption right now.

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Since the summer, about a dozen patients have been transferred to community hospitals in Dawson City and Watson Lake, in order to create space atWhitehorse General Hospital. Officials have said the Whitehorse hospital often lacks any empty beds.

"It's been challenging for our physicians. It's been challenging for nurses," MacNicol said.

The Yukon Hospital Corporation (YHC) says many patients in Whitehorse as many as 40per cent should instead be in another type of health care facilityas they do not require acute hospital care.

MacNicol says he's raised his concerns with the Yukon government.

"We've gone to [Health and]Social Services, and we've really been frank with them as to what the problem is but other than providing stronger home care, we're still very limited in long-term care," MacNicolsaid.

'Scrambling' to find beds for surgeries

JasonBilsky, CEO of YHC,says the level of overcrowding at Whitehorse General isinterfering with emergency care.

"Yesterday, we looked at the bed stats report and we were at 105 per cent. So already we're full. We're overfull," he said.

"Also planned yesterday were 13 surgeries. Three of those requiredpost-surgicaladmits.We're scrambling to try and find beds to proceed with these surgeries. At that time we have to make certain critical decisions. We can postpone the surgeries, but that's very inconvenient for people."

He said some of those were non-elective, or emergency, surgeries.

Bilskyagrees recent decisions to transfer patients to community hospitals are difficult, but said the hospital needs to make use all available beds.

Families want more consultation

Still, some families of patients who have been moved say they received almost no notice before a transfer.

AudreyBrown lives outside HainesJunction. She rushed to Whitehorse when she learned her husband was being moved to Watson Lake, a five-hour drive away.

"[A caller from the hospital]said, 'we're sending him this afternoon,' and Isaid, 'just leave him there 'tilIget there! I wantto see him. Don't take him without me getting there,'" she recalled.

Brown says she's happy with the care her husband received in WatsonLake. However, she says many relatives weren't able to go visit or bring home-cooked meals as they wouldin Whitehorse.

"When Iwent to WatsonLake,Isee that has was treated good, and yet, he's lonely. That's what he said'why was Imoved here?Iwant to go home.'"

Brown's granddaughter,KathleenJones,saidthe family could have received more noticeor been involved in planning.

"There [could] have been more consultation. More working with us, instead of telling us how it's going to be," Jones said.