Contingency plan in place at QEII to deal with overcrowding

Higher than normal patient volumesat theQEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax duringthe past week havebeen causing longer waits for people seeking emergency treatment.

Margaret Angus, a spokesperson for Nova Scotia Health, said Friday she was not aware of any connection between the overcrowding and COVID-19.

"The cause has been a sustained period of high activity in our emergency department and also increased waits for admitted patients to access a bed, especially at the QEII," she said.

The health authority said in a news release that measures have been put into effect at the hospital to increase patient capacity and improve the situation.

Angus said the health authority has launched a co-ordinated effort involving clinical and administrative officials in the central zone, which includes the Halifax area, Eastern Shore and West Hants.

She saidfour inpatient beds have been opened at the Halifax Infirmary and seven stretchers will open in the infirmary's radiology recovery area.

Weekend staffing was alsoincreased to support discharging patients over the weekend.

In an emailSunday, Angus said the situationis "looking much better", with only threepatients at the QEII emergency department awaiting admission, and no ambulances waiting at any of the fourmajor emergency departments in the central health zone.

The extra beds will stay open for the time being to "help ensure things are stabilized."

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