Rising Patient Harm Linked to Hospital Errors in Canada: Urgent Reform Needed

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Recent data reveals a disconcerting trend: errors in Canadian hospitals are on the rise. An alarming report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) discloses that approximately one in every 17 hospitalizations between March 2022 and March 2023 resulted in patient harm. This equates to around 145,000 individuals, who sought medical care but, instead, faced complications such as infections, pneumonia, medication errors, or the development of bedsores.

Kate Parson of CIHI reflects on this trend with concern, marking this as the third consecutive year of escalating health errors. Parson reinforces the urgency to disseminate this information, driving the much-needed change.


Compared to preceding years, a marked 20 per cent increase in urinary tract infections have been reported, in tandem with a 25 per cent escalation in aspiration pneumonia, a condition that arises when patients inadvertently inhale food or fluids. A shocking 50 per cent hike in pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores, was also noted. While part of this may be attributable to improved data keeping, the statistics remain deeply troubling.

Data analysis revealed for the first time evidence of hospitals’ increasing dependence on overtime and agency staff. A concerning correlation arose between these heightened staffing levels and instances of harm inflicted on patients.

Nurses’ sick days saw an increase of 17 per cent, leaving the health-care system bereft of approximately 6,500 nurses. Furthermore, nurses reported nearly 14 million hours of overtime throughout the fiscal year, a staggering surge of 50 per cent from the previous year.

This situation has led to a widespread exodus of nurses, precipitated by burnout and exhaustion. The remaining staff, stretched thin amidst the rapid pace and inadequate support, express fears of compromising patient care.

The manifestation of these issues is starkly evident in the rise of pressure ulcers or bedsores. These develop primarily amongst older and less mobile patients when prolonged pressure impairs blood supply to the skin, a condition exacerbated by the lack of time health-care professionals have to monitor patients and implement prevention measures.

Alarmingly, these risks are not mitigated by the surging presence of agency nurses, despite an 80 per cent increase in the hours billed by this sector in the hospitals during 2022-23. Citing a lack of teamwork and an imbalance between the demands of the job and their skill set, hospital nurses voice concerns over the efficacy of temporary agency nursing staff.

To ensure patient safety, approaches to change must be aggressive and swift. Effective solutions as delineated in the CIHI report highlight the need for adequate staffing of familiar faces, flexible working hours, and sufficient patient-to-nurse ratios to offer comprehensive care. States such as California already implement mandatory RN-to-patient ratios, reflecting lower rates of hospital-acquired infections, readmissions, and an overall rise in patient and family satisfaction.

As such, the investment in health-care staffing proves crucial, directly linked to patient safety, the quality of care, and overall hospital efficiency. Canadians must heed this potent data, or else the alarming figures stand only to escalate further.

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Melinda Cochrane is a poet, teacher and fiction author. She is also the editor and publisher of The Inspired Heart, a collection of international writers. Melinda also runs a publishing company, Melinda Cochrane International books for aspiring writers, based out Montreal, Quebec. Her publication credits include: The art of poetic inquiry, (Backalong Books), a novella, Desperate Freedom, (Brian Wrixon Books Canada), and 2 collections of poetry; The Man Who Stole Father’s Boat, (Backalong Books), and She’s an Island Poet, Desperate Freedom was on the bestseller's list for one week, and The Man Who Stole Father’s Boat is one of hope and encouragement for all those living in the social welfare system. She’s been published in online magazines such as, (regular writer for) ‘Life as a Human’, and Shannon Grissom’s magazine.