RIH returns to ‘normal’ after flu causes more overcrowding
KAMLOOPS — A week after Royal Inland Hospital experienced well over-capacity, with more patients than beds available, it appears everything is back to normal.
Medical Services Director Kris Kristjanson says all 254 beds were occupied, and the hospital had to enact special measures to deal with the surge. But he says it’s not nearly as busy this week.
“The congestion at the hospital is better today than it was last week,” says Kristjanson. “Last week was certainly a very busy week at the hospital. That’s not uncommon at this time of the year. We call it ‘winter surge.’ During the period from about Decemeber to March, we have patients at the hospital more frequently for influenza.”