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Whitehorse Hospital Overwhelmed: Hallway Care Becomes Norm
16 Oct
Summary
- Hospital operating at 124% capacity, exceeding its 79 inpatient bed limit.
- Population growth and aging contribute to increased healthcare demand.
- A proposal for a 56-bed expansion is underway to meet future needs.
Whitehorse General Hospital is facing a persistent challenge of being over capacity, with occupancy rates averaging 121% so far this year and reaching 124% recently. This strain means patients are sometimes treated in hallways or converted spaces like former dining rooms and meeting rooms, which can disrupt other hospital services.
The increasing demand is attributed to significant population growth in the Yukon, which has seen a 26% increase since 2014. An aging population requiring more complex care, coupled with advances in medical science allowing people to live longer with chronic conditions, further stresses hospital resources. Delays in accessing care elsewhere also contribute to the pressure.
Currently, projections indicate a need for 100 inpatient beds, a shortfall from the existing 79. To address this, a proposal for a substantial expansion of 56 new beds has been put forward. By 2045, the Yukon Hospital Corporation anticipates needing between 139 to 159 beds. This ongoing situation is expected to continue, necessitating the use of overflow spaces while the expansion is planned and implemented.
