News broke of a potential newborn health crisis over the weekend when an anonymous email was published by the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) last Thursday, appearing to be written by a frontline worker in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Regina General Hospital. This was followed with comments published yesterday morning.
It outlines a dire situation in the NICU that has lasted for weeks, including operating over capacity with staff working extended hours and multiple overtime shifts.
“The situation is becoming critical: 1:1 patient care assignments are being doubled, and today we used our last available ventilator. We are doing everything we can, but the strain is real and growing.”
"The equivalent of 30 full time nursing positions were recorded in overtime, sick time and casual hours last year alone. All significantly up and a big indicator of burnout."
It explains this has caused significant lapses in the quality of care, including errors in mixing milk and shortcomings in communications with parents, due to the resulting time crunch.
"No supports for staff who are being pushed to the limit of burnout and exhaustion having to deal with unsafe workplace standards, sick babies, too many calls and tasks creating not a safe environment for babies or parents. Not about to spend any time with parents to update them properly on babies condition and status."
It was also reported that mothers and babies were being sent to North Dakota to receive care they could not at RGH.
The Opposition NDP sent a release quoting Meara Conway, Shadow Minister for Rural & Remote Health, regarding the situation, calling out the provincial government for their lack of disclosure.
“It’s unacceptable that weeks into this crisis, we only know about this because of the courage of a frontline healthcare worker who is clearly desperate. The Sask. Party discloses nothing and does nothing.”
Sask Health Authority issues response
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has responded to the matter in a written statement, beginning by denying that any patients were sent to North Dakota for care.
“No NICU babies or moms have been sent to North Dakota, out of province nor out of country due to the recent demand for care. There has NOT been a transfer out of province for a NICU patient since January 2021, and there has NOT been a transfer of a NICU patient out of country since 2008.”
It continues by saying Regina has seen a surge in demand over the past few weeks, with numerous premature births and multiple births. However, they assure there continues to be NICU capacity in the province.
“There is not a shortage of NICU. Our Regina General team works with NICU teams in Saskatoon and Prince Albert daily to ensure that all newborns and children receive care appropriate to their level of acuity and complexity, no matter where their home community may be.”
The statement ends with recognition for the staff who have been providing care amidst this ‘surge in demand’.
“Though capacity changes regularly with admissions and discharges, the SHA extends its deep appreciation to health-care teams and leaders who are working hard each day to manage this latest surge in demand for our youngest patients in Regina.”