Elective surgeries postponed in Interior Health hospitals as B.C. prepares for heatwave response
KAMLOOPS — The B.C. government says all hands are on deck to prepare for the heat warning issued by Environment Canada that could last as late as Sunday (Aug. 15).
During an availability on Wednesday (Aug. 11), Health Minister Adrian Dix noted challenges that acute care at hospitals in Kamloops, Kelowna, and Vernon are facing. He said some elective surgeries are being postponed, allowing hospital staff to properly serve people during the heatwave, wildfire smoke, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The important changes and adjustments are being made,” Dix stated. “[Staff] have completed more surgical slates this summer than they normally would up to now. This allows us some flexibility to make these changes at this time.”
For emergency health services, Dix said managers will be working in hospital ERs to get patients out of ambulances and into care quickly, more clinicians will be stationed in dispatch centres, and on-call rural shifts for Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. is full time for the weekend. He added nurses at HealthLink BC are ready for higher call volumes.