CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Four added in the past seven days

New ICU beds already full, says Medicine Hat nurse

Sep 23, 2021 | 10:57 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Alberta Health Services confirmed yesterday that four ICU beds have been added at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital as COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions reach record highs.

Those four beds were filled in one shift, according to a local health-care worker.

Ian Hennes, a registered nurse at the hospital, posted on Facebook about his first shift redeployed to an expanded ICU.

“We opened 4 additional beds, and filled them all in one shift. We are full. What will it take? If unvaccinated, please reconsider why.”

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The four surge beds in Medicine Hat are part of 41 new spaces opened in the province over the past seven days.

In a statement, an AHS spokesperson told CHAT News on Wednesday the there are now 45 COVID-19 patients at the hospital, nine of those in the ICU. On Monday there were just 36 COVID-19 patients at the Medicine Hat hospital.

Hennes finishes by saying “The preventable suffering is devastating” and “If you have questions, call 811 instead of Google. My inbox is always open as well.”

AHS says there are now 348 ICU beds open in Alberta, 175 of which are surge spaces. AHS says there are currently 302 patients in ICU across the province, and Wednesday’s COVID-19 update shows 230 COVID patients in ICU.

AHS adds that like all other sites, Medicine Hat has cancelled surgeries and redeployed staff to support ICU and inpatient capacity. ICU capacity will continue to be monitored.