Respiratory illnesses maintain pressure on Children’s Hospital ICU

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This article was published 04/01/2024 (658 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pressure continues to mount in Manitoba’s pediatric intensive care unit, with nurses struggling to keep up with a surge of sick children, many of whom have the flu.

On Thursday, Health Sciences Centre Children’s Hospital pediatric ICU was again operating above its baseline capacity of 12 beds.

“It’s horrendous what’s happening over there as nurses scramble to care for little ones,” Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson said.

The Winnipeg hospital has been overwhelmed with severe flu cases for the past two weeks, when it was forced to reassign 14 HSC staff to assist with volumes at the children’s emergency room.

A spokesperson for Shared Health, the provincial authority responsible for HSC, said several of the youngsters are experiencing significant respiratory symptoms — with the majority having flu- or COVID-19-like concerns.

Shared Health did not say how many children were in ICU, as of Thursday.

The children’s ER, however, had an average of 152 patients per day over the past week, which was slightly down from the December average of 157, and below the daily average of 170 patients reported in November 2022.

About half the children coming through the emergency department are sick with the flu or a flu-like illness.

Jackson said MNU members describe the situation as worsening at HSC, where nurses must hold pediatric ICU patients in the emergency department, owing to the number of children already in critical care.

Nurses are also working flat-out and are being mandated to keep up with patient demand, the union leader said.

“Staff are being asked to start their day shifts at 3:30 a.m., as that’s when the mandated evening shift goes home,” Jackson said.

“Add insult to injury, nurses being asked to look in their hearts to pick up extra shifts is not only shameful, but it’s unsafe for those who’ve been working longer than they safely should.”

The Shared Health spokesperson acknowledged the “challenging conditions” faced by HSC staff. “We thank them for their continued professionalism and commitment to their patients as we work through this challenging respiratory virus season.”

No additional staff reassignments were necessary to manage patient volumes since Dec. 21, the spokesperson added. However, staff have been asked to voluntarily pick up extra shifts.

Contingency plans are in place to expand capacity in both pediatric and adult ICUs, if needed, the spokesperson said.

No surgeries have been postponed at HSC this week owing to ICU capacity. Adult ICU patient volumes also continue to be higher than normal, with about 20 per cent having respiratory symptoms.

Manitobans can reduce the spread of viruses by getting vaccinated, staying home when sick, and practicing good hand hygiene, officials said.

“We’re also asking people to know their care options, as well as symptoms that can be safely treated at home with rest and fluids,” the Shared Health spokesperson said.

“Many cold and flu symptoms can be treated by a primary care provider or at home, reserving urgent care and emergency departments for more serious illness and injury.”

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca