Sask. NDP say leaked letter reveals deaths at Regina General Hospital due to severe staffing shortages
Health care workers join NDP at scrum. Gerri Grant (centre) a former Interventional Radiologist speaks to reporters. Grant was among several health care professionals to highlight staffing issues at the Regina General Hospital. (Wayne Mantyka/CTV News)
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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Six infants born with congenital measles in Ontario from unvaccinated mothers
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, speaks at a press conference at the legislature in Toronto on Monday, April 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO — Ontario's chief medical officer of health says six infants have been born with congenital measles since an outbreak began last fall, adding they were infected in the womb through mothers who were not vaccinated. Dr. Kieran Moore says these infants recovered, but their infections could have been prevented if their mothers had been vaccinated and protected from contracting measles. Congenital measles can result in severe complications, including inflammation of the brain and death. On Thursday, Moore announced an infant born prematurely and infected with measles died in southwestern Ontario. He says the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus. In an interview with The Canadian Press, Moore says 40 pregnant people have been infected with measles in Ontario, and only two were vaccinated. Moore suggests unvaccinated pregnant people isolate if they live in a community with active measles cases. Health officials have reported more than 2,000 cases in the province since the outbreak began in October. The measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is not recommended once a person is pregnant because it contains a live virus that could theoretically be transmitted to the fetus. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends unvaccinated pregnant people get one dose of intravenous immunoglobulin within six days if they are exposed to measles. However, Moore said that message faces hurdles similar to those around vaccine hesitancy. 'Some people, if they don't want a vaccine, they may not want the immunoglobulin either. That may be a philosophical choice,' Moore said Friday. In an editorial published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. Catherine Varner argues pregnant people are 'bearing the burden' of Canada's measles outbreak. 'Pregnant people are often at higher risk than the general population in infectious disease outbreaks. As such, they cannot be an afterthought in preventive strategies and health-care systems' responses,' Varner writes. Moore said the vast majority of pregnant people in Ontario are fully vaccinated against measles. 'It's only a very small subgroup of people who have chosen not to get vaccinated who are having the complications,' he said. 'I know some will concentrate on the glass being half-empty. You know, to have that level of protection in the face of the risks globally, I think is quite an accomplishment. 'I'd love to have 100 per cent, but we have to work with these communities that have chosen not to be vaccinated, and that is a long and difficult conversation that I think all of our health-care workers are dedicated to having.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content. Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Pediatric ward closure in Kelowna triggers fears of ripple effect in B.C. hospitals
A treatment room in the emergency department at Peter Lougheed hospital is pictured in, Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Dr. Jeff Eppler, an emergency room physician at Kelowna General Hospital, is getting ready for a hectic summer. He's not only thinking about the typical seasonal spike — but the ripple effects of the closure of the hospital's dedicated pediatric ward from May 26 to July 4 due to what Interior Health called 'limited physician availability.' 'It's very difficult, but then you throw this pediatric service disruption in … (it's) just going make our life a lot more difficult, especially as we go into the summer, as things become much busier,' he said. Eppler said ER staff would have to treat some children who would typically be directed onward to pediatrics. 'We can provide safe and effective acute care, but rely on our pediatric colleagues for their support and far deeper knowledge, as well as for providing ongoing care. We cannot be de facto pediatricians as a long-term solution to this current crisis,' he said. And Eppler predicted the resource drain would extend outside the hospital, to ambulance services, as Kelowna General is forced to send other children to other hospitals, in Vernon, Penticton, or potentially even the Kootenays more than 300 kilometres away. Typically, it's the other way around. 'So it's kind of reverse of what we normally do,' Eppler said. 'That certainly ties up ambulances, resources, and it's not great for families or kids, who have a one-to-four hour drive to the other centre.' The closure of Kelowna's pediatric ward is part of ongoing hospital staffing shortages that have caused rolling closures of emergency rooms across the province. Service disruptions at the pediatric ward and concerns about the state of care at Kelowna General are also not new. But the abrupt nature of the pediatric closure last week, and a recent warning from doctors about maternity care is putting one of the province's biggest regional hospitals in the spotlight. Nine doctors working in the department of obstetrics and gynecology released a statement last month warning about a 'growing crisis' in maternity care putting the 'safety of patients and newborns' at 'serious risk' unless officials take immediate actions. They said primary maternity care at the hospital was 'facing a collapse' as early as June 1 because of a 'critical shortage' of family physicians willing or able to provide such care. 'This means that many pregnant patients may arrive at the hospital in labour with no doctor available to provide safe, continuous care during delivery.' Then came the closure of the pediatric ward last week. It should have 12 full-time pediatricians, Interior Health said, but when it closed, staffing was put at five and a half doctors. Susan Brown, president and chief executive officer of Interior Health, said the ward was closed to 'preserve the higher level of care' offered by the pediatricians, who will be redeployed. 'So that would be on our neonatal intensive care unit and some other work at the site,' she said. 'So we've done that to ensure safe patient care, but also thinking about the wellness and retention of the medical staff who continue to go above and beyond.' The hospital with 497 beds received 95,022 emergency room visits in 2023-24, according to Interior Health. It not only serves Greater Kelowna with an estimated population of 235,000, but is also one of two 'tertiary referral hospitals' providing specialized and complex care to a larger region that is home to almost 900,000 people. Adriane Gear, president of the BC Nurses' Union, said nurses at Kelowna General are now responsible for managing acutely ill pediatric patients in an 'already strained emergency department setting' not designed for ongoing pediatric in-patient care. 'This compromises safety, delays treatment, and can increase the risk of poor outcomes,' she said in a letter shared by the union. 'Nurses entered this profession to deliver safe, high quality care — not to be forced into situations that put their patients at risk.' Eppler meanwhile predicted the pediatric ward closure would worsen ER wait times. 'We definitely provide good quality care, but it's becoming increasingly challenging, even before this disruption in pediatric services,' he said. 'We have been coping really for years, and we have been sounding the alarm for a long time, like a broken record.' Eppler said overcrowding 'is really contributing to moral injury and burnout' among physicians and nursing staff. A report from the Montreal Economic Institute released this month said that the median length of a stay in Kelowna General's emergency room was three hours and 24 minutes, lower than the provincial figure of four hours, 13 minutes. Eppler said about 10 per cent of ER admissions involve children. 'On some days, none of those pediatric patients, once they're seen, will need to go in the hospital,' he says. 'But some days, we might admit three or four of them.' Eppler said Wednesday that seven transfers of pediatric patients from Kelowna General to other hospitals had taken place since the ward closure, a figure confirmed by Interior Health. 'But I know those numbers are gonna go up there,' he said. 'So you are gonna see sick children that are going to need admission, and we are going have to transport these patients, if there are beds available at other centres.' Mayor Everett Baker of Grand Forks, a community of some 4,100 about 200 kilometres southeast of Kelowna, said he was concerned about the situation at Kelowna General. Grand Forks has a community hospital with nine ER beds, but depends on other hospitals for more specialized services. Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital is Grand Forks' primary hospital for pediatric care, but Kelowna General had served as a secondary destination, he said. While the closure of the pediatric ward at Kelowna had not yet had an impact on Grand Forks, he agreed with Eppler's prediction of ripple effects throughout the region. 'If there's something that goes on in Kelowna, it can't help but affect other regions just because it is such a major hospital,' Baker said. Small rural communities have fewer options than urban areas, he said. 'It's a different dynamic because in Vancouver, you might have four or five different hospitals … you can access.' Brown said Interior Health was also concerned about the effects of the pediatric closure on other hospitals. She said the ER department would remain open to any pediatric patients. 'But should your child need to be transferred to an alternate site, we have added resources to ensure that there's time to do that in a safe way,' she said. Brown said an additional pediatrician would arrive in July with two more in September. But she could not commit to reopening the ward on July 5, saying the date would be set in consultation with doctors. B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said Friday that she had talked with Brown about recruitment at Kelowna General. She said her ministry was working with doctors to ensure services are in place during a 'very, very challenging time.' Osborne added that recruitment issues at the hospital should be seen within the 'context of a global health care worker shortage.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Six infants born with congenital measles in Ontario from unvaccinated mothers
Ontario's chief medical officer of health says six infants have been born with congenital measles since an outbreak began last fall, adding they were infected in the womb through mothers who were not vaccinated. Article content Dr. Kieran Moore says these infants recovered, but their infections could have been prevented if their mothers had been vaccinated and protected from contracting measles. Article content Article content Article content Congenital measles can result in severe complications, including inflammation of the brain and death. Article content Article content In an interview with The Canadian Press, Moore says 40 pregnant people have been infected with measles in Ontario, and only two were vaccinated. Article content Moore suggests unvaccinated pregnant people isolate if they live in a community with active measles cases. Health officials have reported more than 2,000 cases in the province since the outbreak began in October. Article content The measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is not recommended once a person is pregnant because it contains a live virus that could theoretically be transmitted to the fetus. Article content Article content The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends unvaccinated pregnant people get one dose of intravenous immunoglobulin within six days if they are exposed to measles. Article content Article content However, Moore said that message faces hurdles similar to those around vaccine hesitancy. Article content 'Some people, if they don't want a vaccine, they may not want the immunoglobulin either. That may be a philosophical choice,' Moore said Friday. Article content In an editorial published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. Catherine Varner argues pregnant people are 'bearing the burden' of Canada's measles outbreak. Article content 'Pregnant people are often at higher risk than the general population in infectious disease outbreaks. As such, they cannot be an afterthought in preventive strategies and health-care systems' responses,' Varner writes. Article content Moore said the vast majority of pregnant people in Ontario are fully vaccinated against measles. Article content 'It's only a very small subgroup of people who have chosen not to get vaccinated who are having the complications,' he said. Article content 'I know some will concentrate on the glass being half-empty. You know, to have that level of protection in the face of the risks globally, I think is quite an accomplishment. Article content 'I'd love to have 100 per cent, but we have to work with these communities that have chosen not to be vaccinated, and that is a long and difficult conversation that I think all of our health-care workers are dedicated to having.' Article content
