Saskatoon hospital violates fire code due to patient overcrowding
The Saskatoon Fire Department says St. Paul’s Hospital is in violation of fire code requirements, with beds crowding the hallways and obstructing exit doors.
“Saskatoon Fire Department met with St. Paul’s Hospital administration this week and identified hallway crowding issues at it relates to National Fire Code requirement,” Assistant Fire Chief Yvonne Raymer said.
Raymer said the code issue involves not enough width to open exit doors.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said “the leadership team” met with the fire department and advised inspectors “that there are times when the hospital experiences overcapacity and patients may be temporarily placed in hallways.”
Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) said St. Paul’s has been overcapacity for weeks.
“It’s a hazard. They’ve got beds close to exits and all they have hanging off the bed is an oxygen tank. There’s no call bell,” SUN president Tracy Zambory said.
"Mid to late career nurses, 14 years plus, haven’t even seen it this bad.”
The nurses’ union president said hospital overcrowding is a "system" failure.
“People don't have physicians, so they come to the emergency rooms ... we've got people in beds that we can't discharge because they need care in the community that they can't get,” Zambory said, also referencing staffing shortages.
Zambory said flu season is putting more pressure on the existing problem.
Saskatchewan’s minister of health, Everett Hindley, said he’s aware of the overcrowding at St. Paul’s Hospital and is in talks with the SHA to understand the reason for the overflow into hallways.
“I’m aware of the concerns and have raised it with the SHA. It’s not something we expect or anticipate to be happening in our hospitals,” Hindley said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.