On Air Now CHON Overnight Midnight - 7:00am
Now Playing Overnight schedule with hourly CP news-breaks CHON Overnight Programming
Listen Live

Yukon Doctor Tells of Hospital Bed Shortage Issues

Friday, 1 December 2017 08:40

Dr. Rao Tadepalli says staff are burning out and patients health outcomes being affected.

A Whitehorse emergency physician is speaking out on the overcrowding at the Whitehorse General Hospital saying its an unfortunate situation.

Dr. Rao Tadepalli says on Twitter that up to ten patients often have to walk too far for bathrooms, not enough showers and a lack of privacy. He says there is poor infection control, which is affecting surgical day care.

Tadepalli says there is poor emergency care and staff burn out due to the backlog.

Tadepalli, the former head of the Yukon Medical Association is one of a few doctors to speak about the overcrowding at the hospital. This situation has forced the hospital to transfer patients to Watson Lake or Dawson City hospitals to take some pressure off of Whitehorse.

This decision has left some families angry. It doesn't appear the government is willing to create temporary beds, until the Whistle Bend Continuing care facility opens in approximately one year. The government is content on continuing transfers as Premier Sandy Silver has stated he wants to better utilize Yukon's rural hospitals.

Share

More from CHON-FM Northern News