Hamilton Health Sciences asks employees to end vacation, work more as some units 'severely understaffed'
CBC
The CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) has issued a personal appeal asking staff to work even more hours or come back from vacation to fill gaps as some areas of the hospital system are "severely understaffed."
It's a shortage that the critical care lead at the Juravinski Hospital, part of HHS, described as "monumental" and has left the hospital in "crisis mode in a lot of places."
"We have half the nurses in the hospital working that we need," said Dr. Bram Rochwerg.
"The half that are showing up to work are being asked to do twice as much as they normally would and causing increasing stress and burnout."
A memo from HHS CEO Rob MacIsaac to employees says its hospitals, like others across the province, are facing "enormous pressures" as the Omicron variant spreads, workers take time off for the holidays and staff are sidelined by the COVID-19 virus.
"Tonight several of our acute care units are severely understaffed," he wrote in the note dated Dec. 30.
"I am making a personal appeal to all healthcare workers who have availability tonight and in the coming days to step forward."
Statistics on the HHS website show 411 of its employees were self-isolating as of Friday.
The hospital system reports it is caring for 113 patients with the virus. Thirteen COVID-19 patients are in the ICU.
Rochwerg said HHS has seen a "slight increase" in ICU volumes because of general critical illnesses, as well as illness related to COVID-19.
But, coupled with the ongoing staffing struggle, that slight bump is straining staff.
"I can't stress enough the impact this is having on our hospital system because of stress, burnout, folks being away, sick with Omicron," said the doctor.
MacIsaac's memo is addressed to employees currently on vacation, those who work part-time or occasional hours and anyone who can extend their usual hours.
The request from the CEO comes as Ontario reported 16,713 cases of COVID-19 on New Year's Eve.
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