B.C. Children’s Hospital has quietly activated an Emergency Operations Centre amid high patient volumes, and is asking beleaguered staff to do even more as they expect a surge of young patients in the coming days.
The hospital’s chief operating officer sent a memo on the situation to all staff Wednesday afternoon, but neither the public nor patients were notified that administrators felt the move was necessary as they are “actively preparing to manage an anticipated surge while continuing to provide our most vital services.”
COO Sarah Bell wrote that while they “continue to face the challenge of balancing staffing levels amidst unprecedented volumes,” administrators are so concerned with the strain on pediatric units across the country and around the world, they are establishing an Emergency Operations Centre and “may call on (staff) to show up in a different way, leaning in where emerging needs are greatest.”
In response, a communications staffer for the hospital sent brief email asking who else was being interviewed for this story, suggesting the agency is more focussed on the optics and public perception of the facility than explaining whether the level of care would change.
MINISTER IN THE HOT SEAT
Early Thursday afternoon, a Vancouver Coastal Health dashboard with hospital wait times showed a wait of nearly four hours to see a doctor at the children’s hospital, but on the weekend, parents confirmed the posted wait of more than 10 hours was accurate.
