It’s no secret that the number of COVID-19 infections is increasing in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, and in many other areas across the country.
President and CEO of Quinte Health Care Stacey Daub says increased community spread is the main difference between this surge and the ones before it.
Daub says infection control efforts in the hospitals have been stepped up but says local spread means it’s more likely the virus will get into hospitals, and expects the higher case rates to continue for a while.
“The hope is that with the relatively high vaccination rates and the efficacy of the vaccine that we’ll see lower levels of illness and lower levels of hospitalization and most importantly less deaths in our community.”
Daub says public health is doing a very good job with contact tracing and lab results are coming back quickly which helps slow down community spread.
Meanwhile despite extensive recruitment efforts there remains a shortage of medical staff at Quinte Health Care’s hospitals.
However, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for QHC Carol Smith Romeril told the Board of Directors Tuesday that staffing problems are an issue across Ontario and beyond.
But Smith Romeril warned the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases could really be a challenge to the staff especially if too many people need the Intensive Care Unit.
“Because we’re experiencing staffing challenges everywhere this particular surge will need to be watched very closely because of that kind of capacity challenge.”
QHC’s recruitment efforts are bearing fruit with over 10 new nurses receiving orientation and expected to start work some time in January.
On a lighter note, QHC President and CEO Stacey Daub said even under the ongoing pressures of working in the Intensive Care Unit the vast majority of the staff there were happy to make a donation to the Belleville General Hospital Foundation recently.
“It was a testament to me just how hard-working and how their sense of identity and pride is connected to the hospital and we really need to keep that intact over this next year.”
Meanwhile the increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients and the changing of the seasons has led to higher wait times in Belleville’s emergency department with a bigger increase in Trenton Memorial’s ER.
