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.
The New Brunswick RMCP is on track to keep its promise to launch a specialized unit by the end of this year to investigate a rising number of human-trafficking reports in the province.
Time may be running out for François Legault.
Failing to report when a child is missing, sending kids to school in soiled clothes and refusing to learn how to treat a little girl's medical condition are just a few of the concerns being raised by a Manitoba child welfare agency about emergency placement staff.
A parents committee in Prince Edward Island's Évangéline Region is frustrated that some of the playground equipment it purchased for a school in the area doesn't meet safety standards.
The City of Hamilton appears to be pulling out all the stops to make this holiday season unforgettable.
The opening of a new intersection at Sydney Avenue and Howard Avenue is delayed again.
American ski towns bracing for a steep decline in Canadian tourism are still hoping they can coax their northern neighbours back this holiday season.
Canada's tax agency says it doesn't expect Canadians who hold simple trusts, known as bare trusts, to file required tax forms this coming tax season — but legislative changes currently before the House of Commons means the requirements will likely be in place in 2027.
WARNING: This story contains references to domestic violence and abuse.
E-bike and e-scooter riders in Toronto may soon have a new obstacle in their path, with one city councillor proposing police confiscate their electric mobility devices if they're caught riding on the sidewalk.
Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie used strong mayor powers to change the 2026 and future city budgets and reinstate winter maintenance of bike lanes.
The N.W.T. government has taken some water fixtures out of service at another school in the territory, due to elevated lead levels in the water.
An end-of-year holiday message sent to Fanshawe College employees did not bring much optimism about the future, as the school's president says all full-time employees are being offered a way out of their jobs.