Retirement News : Seniors : Half of South Shore space filled with long-term-care patients

Half of South Shore space filled with long-term-care patients

Date Added: 23-11-2005

Hospital beds in Halifax are at a premium.  Read the article below.

Halifax Herald - Halifax,Nova Scotia,Canada

By DAVID JACKSON Provincial Reporter

Almost half the beds at the South Shore’s three hospitals are occupied by people waiting to get into a nursing home or other facility.

Kevin McNamara, chief executive officer of the South Shore district health authority, said the figure is 47 per cent, meaning space is tight for those who’ve been treated in emergency or are awaiting surgery.

"This places an additional strain on the emergency room because patients there can’t get into beds," Mr. McNamara said in an interview Monday.

Of the 77 medical/surgical beds at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater, Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg and Queens General Hospital in Liverpool, 30 are occupied by people waiting for "alternative levels of care," a term used by district health officials. The district has 12 beds dedicated for such use.

Mr. McNamara said the situation puts more pressure on the district’s tight finances.

If those awaiting care elsewhere weren’t in those beds, they could be closed at times of "slowdown" like Christmas, March break and summer when staff take vacation.

Read the entire article:

http://www.herald.ns.ca/Front/466268.html