Battlefords Union Hospital will l have more than triple the capacity for ICU beds by December 31. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

ICU increase

North Battleford ICU capacity increasing by December 31

Dec 23, 2020 | 4:17 PM

North Battleford Saskatchewan Hospital will have the capacity to more than triple the number of beds for the Intensive Care Unit by December 31, should the need arise.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has been focused on increasing capacity of ICU care for all patients who may require it, as part of its overall surge plan to address projected growth in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes creating physical space for critically ill patients and scaling up critical care staffing. Following a request from battlefordsNOW, the SHA provided some numbers to explain where the plan currently stands.

Potential for eight additional ICU beds

North Battleford currently has three of the province’s 75 beds located at critical care sites. By New Year’s Eve, the SHA will be able to increase to 238 ICU beds to intubate and ventilate, with further expansion capacity of 393 beds by February. In North Battleford, the capacity to increase to 11 ICU beds, with eight ventilators, will exist on December 31.

This will provide significant breathing room for both the SHA and the affected regions. North Battleford is a designated spot for patients in the North West region and currently has one ICU bed in use.

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SHA spokesperson James Winkel said there are several factors to keep in mind with this move to increase capacity. Twenty-one of the province’s ICU beds are currently being utilized, as of December 23, with 104 people receiving in patient care and daily infections slowing in the past week.

“It is important to realize within this scenario we would be caring for both COVID and non-COVID patients,” Winkel said. “It is also extremely important to realize that these numbers reflect the worst case scenario and we do not want to see this happen.”

The SHA continues to monitor and mobilize services to ensure the sickest patients in larger centres receive care. Winkel said transferring some patients and residents outside of their home areas to receive care may be required as a result.

“Prior to being transferred, if required, the care needs of patients and residents will be assessed and matched to a service and location that can safely meet their needs as close to home as possible,” he said. “Delivering care as close to home as possible remains the SHA’s top priority.

Just under 3,800 cases are considered active in Saskatchewan, out of almost 14,000 cases. The SHA hopes restrictions put in place over December and into January will result in a significant reduction of new cases.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports