RVH president cites many factors for long hospital wait times
The president and CEO of Simcoe Muskoka's largest hospital, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), addressed a recent report revealing troubling wait times in its emergency department.
Janice Skot cited several factors, including patient transfers from smaller hospitals and infrastructure challenges, following the report by Ontario Quality Health that recorded average wait times in the Barrie hospital's ER at nearly two and a half hours in April.
The province-wide average was 1.9 hours before patients could see a doctor.
"Remember, it's multi-factorial," noted Skot. "We need to have enough beds, and therefore we need our ALC patients to safely be discharged, and then that frees up beds and allows our patients to move through the emergency department as opposed to waiting too long for an inpatient stay.
So our building needs to expand in the long-term. In the short-term, I want to assure the public we are doing everything possible in terms of recruitment and staffing."
Skot said the pandemic created staffing shortages that have improved in recent weeks.
The Barrie hospital plans to expand its cold and flu clinic on Sperling Drive, providing an alternative to the emergency room and helping to ease patient wait times.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.