The mayor of Grandview is voicing some concerns within the community about disruptions to healthcare services.
On Nov. 26, Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) temporarily suspended hospital and emergency services at the Grandview Health Centre while staff are reassigned to assist with the outbreak situation at the Grandview Personal Care Home.
“I know we have to provide that help to the personal care home. I understand why it was done — I just don’t like the way it was done,” says Grandview Mayor Kevin Edmondson.
Edmondson says he understands it’s a complicated situation for Prairie Mountain Health to manage, but he takes issue with the short notice given ahead of the decision.
He says he was notified of the hospital closure by PMH CEO Penny Gilson at 12:30 p.m on Wednesday — and that the hospital doors were closed by 8 a.m. Thursday morning.
“Not much notice — and that was the same notice that workers in Grandview hospital and the care home found out as well.”
A statement from Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson counters that “decisions during a pandemic often need to be made quickly and redeployment from acute care centres is part of the staffing escalation plan for Personal Care Homes.”
Temporary Closure Of Grandview Hospital
The Grandview mayor says there are concerns within his community in light of recent examples of health service disruptions and closures in the area.
“I know people are gloom and doom thinking they’re going to shut the [Grandview] hospital forever. I just can’t wrap my head around any government or health services make that decision on that premise.”
Prairie Mountain Health says a minimum three-week closure of the Grandview hospital is necessary to mitigate potential negative outcomes during the care home outbreak.
Some health services continue to operate at the Grandview Health Centre, including lab and X-ray services and the clinic.
Filling Vacant Healthcare Positions
Edmondson also points out that a considerable amount of leg work to preserve health care services has been taken on by the community.
He says the municipality recruited two International Medical Graduates from Nigeria, who now work full-time in Grandview. He says incentives are also offered to attract nurses to work in the area.
“It’s too bad we have to do that, but that’s what it is. We have to take the bull by the horns because if we wait — it wont happen. Not right away anyway — the government moves slow," says Edmondson.
A statement from the regional health authority says Prairie Mountian Health "always welcomes the collaborative engagement of communities in recruiting and retaining health care staff."
Status of Grandview Care Home Outbreak
Two deaths related to the COVID outbreak have been reported at the Grandview Personal Care Home -- a man in his 70s and a woman in her 80s. The outbreak at the Grandview PCH was first declared on Oct. 30.
As of Dec. 8, the province says a total of 30 cases have been identified there. Nine staff members have tested positive, along with 21 residents.
