BGH sees surge in patients

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The Brant Community Healthcare System is operating over capacity these days.

“We’re funded for 295 beds and right now we have 320 beds filled so we’re operating at about 102 per cent capacity,” said Martin Ruaux, chief nurse executive and vice-president of clinical services for the healthcare system, which operates Brantford General Hospital and the Willett urgent-care centre in Paris.

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“We’re seeing more people coming in with respiratory-type illnesses, which is pretty typical for this time of year. We generally see a bit of a surge following the Christmas holidays.”

As of 4:33 p.m. Wednesday there were 17 patients in the BGH emergency department waiting to see a physician. The average wait time was one hour and 31 minutes and the longest wait time to see a physician was just over three hours.

The wait time clock can be seen at https://www.bchsys.org/en/index.aspx

The situation at the healthcare system is complicated by the presence of what hospital officials call alternative level of care patients. These are patients, often elderly, who don’t need the services of the hospital but have nowhere else to go.

These patients either can’t get the assistance they need to live independently or can’t get into a long-term care home because of a shortage of long-term care beds.

At present, the healthcare system is caring for 55 such patients or about 18 per cent of its total funded bed capacity.

“We’re not alone in dealing with this issue,” Ruaux said. “This is a problem across Ontario and I know that the health ministry is looking for solutions.”

Although the healthcare system is managing the surge in people needing medical help, Ruaux said residents can help by getting flu shot and being diligent about washing their hands.

He noted they also should consider all options should they have a medical concern.

In a medical emergency, call 911 or, if necessary, come to the BGH emergency department, Ruaux said.

But if the concern is less serious, then residents should consider visiting walk-in clinics, their family physicians or the Willett, which is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. It, too, has a wait-time clock, which can be found at https://www.bchsys.org/en/care-services/willett-urgent-care-centre.aspx .

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