ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador has asked Eastern Health to consider reducing services — cancelling elective surgeries and other non-urgent procedures — in order to prepare hospitals for COVID-19 admissions.
“Already we have a nursing shortage,” president Yvette Coffey told The Telegram.
Health-care workers are doing COVID-19 swabbing and contract tracing over and above their regular shifts, she said.
“They are really stepping up to the plate,” Coffey said. “We don’t want to burn out our staff."
Eastern Health said while some service areas may have been affected due to employee COVID-19 exposure, no decision has been made on cancelling or postponing non-urgent or elective procedures throughout Eastern Health. Discussions are ongoing, Eastern Health said.
Meanwhile, the union used to be in on regular updates that the provincial government held, but those have stalled with the government in caretaker mode, Coffey said.
“We are upset over that,” she said, urging the government to restart those meetings.
“This is a critical time for health care in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador,” Coffey said.
Coffey said the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) is good at the present time.
She pleaded with the public that it is imperative to adhere to public health guidelines, download the COVID-19 alert app and stay in their bubbles, and, if they have even one symptom, to get tested, and maintain their isolation if self-isolating.
The union has also requested that the COVID-19 testing site at Mount Pearl Senior High be relocated to somewhere more weather-friendly if possible.
While businesses have provided meals and Eastern Health officials are making sure the nurses get breaks, it’s hard to keep their hands warm.
Relocating certain testing sites to more weatherproof locations is with Eastern Health and is a concern of the government, Health Minister Dr. John Haggie said during the COVID-19 briefing Friday.
“In addition to PPE, they certainly have to bring their thermals with them this week and I thank them for the effort," he said.
Coffey acknowledged with the COVID-19 spike, union members are stressed, but it’s a stressful time for everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador, especially the eastern area, and all health-care workers are going to extraordinary efforts to deal with the situation.
She also urged the public not to listen to rumours, but stick with what public health officials are saying as fact.
