06 Oct2014
Doctor Blames Growing ER Wait Times on Nursing Home Bed Shortage
A doctor in Sydney says Emergency Department wait times are growing again because of an ongoing shortage of nursing home beds. Chris Milburn says wait times at the Regional Hospital are up by 20 percent on weekdays and 30 percent on weekends. He adds when people can’t get into nursing homes, they are left stuck in hospital and that eventually causes a backlog in the Emergency Department. The Director of Emergency Care at the Regional, Martha MacLean says emergency departments across the province face the same problem. She adds doctor shortages and Emergency Department closures at other hospitals can add to wait times.