High occupancy rate and overcrowding at the Emergency Department of the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre
Moncton, Wednesday, September 16, 2020 – Since late August, staff and doctors of the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (UHC) have been dealing with a very high occupancy rate, which causes congestion in the facility’s Emergency Department. Until September 28, 2020, the Network is asking people to minimize traffic by avoiding, whenever possible, going to the facility’s Emergency Department.
Emergency Department and alternatives
The facility’s Emergency Department remains available for people who need urgent care and who wish to see a doctor. However, the Network asks people whose health condition does not require urgent care to see their family doctor or nurse practitioner, visit a walk-in clinic or call Tele-Care (811). Unusual delays are to be expected at the Emergency Department for non-urgent cases.
Current challenges: multiple causes
Multiple causes have led to the current situation at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC. These include:
- Staff shortages within a number of areas;
- A high number of elderly patients awaiting placement in a nursing home or special care home;
- A high hospitalization rate.
The Network thanks the public for its valuable collaboration during this difficult period.
