A nurse working in an Alberta internsive care unit has died as health-care employees proceed to attempt to keep afloat amid the fourth wave of COVID-19.
“In the present day we’re saddened by the demise of one in all our nurses who labored within the ICU and emergency departments,” Alberta Well being Providers president and CEO Dr. Verna Yiu stated Thursday.
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Alberta health-care workers desperate for COVID-19 help: ‘We are treading water as furiously as we can’
Yiu didn’t launch any details about how the nurse died, the place they labored or their age for confidentiality causes. She stated the well being authority’s ideas and condolences have been with the nurse’s household, family members and colleagues.
“Our entrance line physicians and nurses are below excessive stress and stress. The pandemic is impacting people and our groups, each bodily and mentally. Our folks have been working tirelessly to take care of Albertans all through this lengthy and exhausting pandemic.
“We perceive and acknowledge the pressure they’re below, in addition to the affect that that is having on their households and family members,” she stated.
“AHS is taking all of the steps needed to make sure that we proceed to help our frontline health-care groups. If anybody at AHS in Alberta is struggling, we’re asking you to succeed in out for assist. We’re right here for you, and you aren’t alone.”
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney admitted Thursday that the addition of 200 extra ICU areas within the province’s hospitals to accommodate COVID-19 sufferers has come at a “actual value.”
“Each when it comes to the massive stress on our superb front-line well being professionals, but additionally as a result of postponements of surgical procedures and different medical procedures,” he stated.
There have been 247 folks in ICU on Thursday, Kenney stated, which was down from 257 the day earlier than. Nevertheless, Yiu stated 27 COVID-19 sufferers wanted to be admitted to ICUs on Wednesday — one of many highest every day admissions this month.
Kenney additionally stated {that a} staff of eight to 10 ICU-trained navy medics are headed to Alberta from the Canadian Armed Forces, permitting as much as two additonal beds to be opened up. These navy workers might be serving to at Edmonton-are hospitals.
Learn extra:
COVID-19: Kenney says Alberta to accept help from feds, N.L as health system under ‘enormous pressure’
Roughly 20 folks might be coming to Alberta from the Canadian Purple Cross, a few of that are ICU-trained, which might be deployed to assist alleviate the “extreme stress” the Purple Deer Regional Hospital is below because of the low vaccination price in rural central Alberta, Kenney stated.
The province can also be welcoming medical workers from Newfoundland and Labrador, after Kenney initially said no to his counterpart, Premier Andrew Furey’s offer of help. These 5 to 6 ICU-trained workers might be heading to the Northern Lights Regional Well being Centre in Fort McMurray.
“I do know that Alberta health-care employees will he grateful for the serving to hand, and all Albertans are grateful for any help at this difficult time,” he stated.
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