'Invisible patients': 15,000 surgeries postponed in Winnipeg alone in past 15 months
Shared Health’s chief nursing officer said the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to have an impact on the number of surgeries that can be performed in Manitoba.
Speaking during a public health update on Wednesday, Lanette Siragusa spoke about the challenges the health-care system is facing in caring for non-COVID patients.
“We know that outside of ICU, thousands of non-COVID patients, invisible patients really, remain waiting for care,” she said. “Approximately 15,000 non-urgent and elective surgeries have been postponed in Winnipeg alone in the past 15 months.”
Siragusa said hospitals and ICUs in Manitoba continued to be stretched during the pandemic.
Last week, Manitoba airlifted two patients to Quebec and Ontario for elective cardiac surgeries.
As of midnight, 151 Manitobans were receiving intensive care, including 97 COVID-19 patients (67 in Manitoba, 27 in Ontario, two in Alberta, and one in Saskatchewan).
Siragusa said no ICU patients with COVID-19 have been transferred outside of Manitoba since June 4.
She added two Manitobans transported to Ontario with COVID-19 on May 25 have died. The individuals were a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s.
Siragusa said the health-care system has been forced to adapt with each wave. She said 15 more nurses have started a two-week orientation to work in the ICU, joining 119 that have already completed the program. She added the province has also put in a virtual COVID program to monitor patients at home and increase hospital bed capacity.
“As of Monday, we have 43 patients who are enrolled in this program, 31 who are on home oxygen,” she said. “This program, since launching in December, has saved 1,337 hospital inpatient days.”
Siragusa said Manitobans need to follow the public health orders and get vaccinated to help ease the strain on hospitals.
“I know that everyone is very tired of the public health restrictions, but we just need to hang on for a little bit longer, so that the transmission rate can continue to fall, and the pressure on our hospitals can begin to ease,” she said.
“We need to do this for our health-care workers who have shown unwavering dedication to their profession and to their patients over the past 15 months.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.