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“Due to high patient demand and acuity in the University of Alberta Hospital emergency department, we will begin using the renovated day ward space at Stollery Children’s Hospital for adult or pediatric emergency overflow,” he said.
A memo from AHS dated Jan 17, posted online over the weekend by NDP Leader Rachel Notley and others, says the change to accommodate emergency overflow would begin as early as Jan. 19.
“This re-allocation of space means the Stollery will maintain the current seven operating theatres, rather than advance to eight operating theatres as was planned for February 2022,” it says.
This is not the first time space at the Stollery has been converted for adult use. In earlier phases of the pandemic, ICU beds were used for adults in need.
This latest wave, fuelled by the Omicron variant, has seen less pressure being put on ICUs while the number of COVID positive patients in acute care hospital beds has broken records. As of Friday, Alberta had 1,191 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 107 patients in ICU.
Williamson said the adult beds opening at the Stollery are not to treat COVID-positive patients.
A “small number” of scheduled pediatric surgeries that were going to take place in the newly renovated space in February will be rescheduled, he said.
“This change is part of the site’s pandemic plan. In these extraordinary times, AHS has had to make significant changes to the way we deliver healthcare. What has remained the same — anyone needing urgent, emergency healthcare will receive it.”
Source: EdmontonJournal
