A doctors' group says neonatal intensive care units in Edmonton have been too full and it's putting vulnerable babies at risk. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
A group of doctors in Edmonton has raised concerns about the overcrowding of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the city, stating that it poses risks to vulnerable newborns.
Adriana LaGrange, the Health Minister of Alberta, mentioned that one potential solution to address this issue could be transporting the infants to other cities or provinces where they can receive adequate care.
The Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association conveyed their worries through an open letter addressed to LaGrange and the head of Alberta Health Services. In the letter, they highlighted that a safe capacity for a neonatal ward is generally around 80 to 85 percent to accommodate emergency cases. However, between January and March, these units were operating at capacities ranging from 95 to 102 percent for about a third of the time.
According to the association, nurses are often overwhelmed with the number of babies they need to care for, leading to delays in feeding for some underweight infants. Additionally, most neonatal units lack facilities that allow parents to stay with their babies overnight.
Dr. Manpreet Gill, the president of the medical group, along with Dr. Amber Reichert, a neonatologist and member of the association, expressed grave concerns in the letter. They warned that if the situation is not addressed promptly, it could potentially result in infant deaths.
Responding to these concerns, LaGrange stated that she has instructed her department and Alberta Health Services to provide her with immediate solutions to rectify the issue. She emphasized her willingness to explore options, including transporting infants and their families to other locations for care.
Opposition leader Rachel Notley condemned the situation, describing it as "horrifying" for Edmonton families to worry about the safety of their babies. She criticized the government's handling of the matter, particularly LaGrange's suggestion of potentially flying babies out of the province for care, which she viewed as a failure on the part of the government.
