As COVID-19 cases in the Central Okanagan continues to surge, health care settings have had to adjust to accommodate incoming patients, including cancelling or pushing back surgeries once again.

During a Thursday, Aug. 12, COVID-19 press conference, Health Minister Adrian Dix said it has been a challenging time for the health care sector, with multiple contributing factors as to why some surgeries are being cancelled again.

害羞草研究所淎t Kelowna General Hospital, Vernon Jubilee Hospital and Royal Inland Hospital, we害羞草研究所檝e been doing more surgeries than we害羞草研究所檝e done before,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淭hat reflects the extraordinary work of people there, (but) there are staffing challenges in our system that are connected to extraordinary demand害羞草研究所� when you have circumstances such as people off sick in terms of COVID-19, that has an impact as well.

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害羞草研究所淭here have been the cancellation of a small number of surgeries; I think 50 over the coming week in terms of cancellation of surgeries at Kelowna General Hospital. This reflects the adjustments we make all the time based on the circumstances.害羞草研究所�

Dix added the cancellations allow for staff and resources to be moved around to where they are needed more during this time: to help people deal with the heat, wildfire smoke, and COVID-19.

害羞草研究所淭here are challenges at Kelowna General, there are challenges in other health care facilities in the province, for health care professionals and health care workers and we害羞草研究所檙e working through those,害羞草研究所� he said.

Dix and B.C.害羞草研究所檚 top doctor Bonnie Henry also addressed burnout within the health care sector, something expressed by several local nurses on social media as of late.

害羞草研究所淚t does not surprise me that people are burning out, that they害羞草研究所檙e leaving their profession. I see that from physicians; I see that from my ICU colleagues who are having challenges finding that balance again in our lives害羞草研究所� I see it from all across the health sector,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲e do need to do what we can to support nurses, to support all of the health care workers in our settings all across the province,害羞草研究所� Henry said.

Henry and Dix also announced a new mandate for long-term care and assisted living workers: as a condition to their employment.

The mandate comes as the virus continues to infiltrate long-term care facilities, with the Interior Health region recording seven facility outbreaks: One in Cranbrook, one in Nelson, and five in the Central Okanagan.

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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