Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital has been compelled to close over a dozen adult mental health beds due to difficulties in finding psychiatrists to fulfill vital roles, as announced by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The mental health unit’s bed count has fallen to just half its initial capacity; 14 out of 29 beds were shut down as of August.
Andrew McLetchie, serving as vice-president of integrated northern health in the health authority, explained that the unit typically employs six practicing adult psychiatrists, but is presently operating with just half that number. The remaining three clinicians confessed to their struggle with managing a full unit, suggesting the need for an equilibrium between inpatient facility and their ability to offer services. The vacated mental health beds would remain so until staffing challenges are surmounted, a task that remains daunting given the soaring demand for psychiatrists nationwide.
Tracy Zambory, at the helm of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, highlighted the distress that this shortage of staff causes, expressing concern about an escalation in both mental health and addiction cases. Zambory underlined the urgent need for an upsurge in resources rather than a deduction. She vehemently stated that the inability to cater to these cases adequately could catalyze an acute crisis or precipitate a tragedy.
The youth mental health unit of Victoria Hospital is also experiencing similar hurdles in recruiting specialists. Having failed to secure three youth psychiatrist positions, the unit had to close down in August. At the moment, the youth unit has no practicing psychiatrists on its premises.
While McLetchie mentioned that some support is forthcoming from outpatient clinics in Saskatoon, Zambory stressed the need for significantly more financial investment in mental health and addiction treatments. She praised the commendable efforts of the hospital’s registered and psychiatric nurses while acknowledging the dire condition of their community.
The Ministry of Health, at the time this article was written, hadn’t offered any comments regarding the situation.
