How past policy decisions and the unmet needs of an aging population are pushing BC's healthcare system to the brink

The majority of British Columbia’s hospitals are consistently operating over 100 per cent capacity, which is affecting how well doctors can care for their patients in emergency departments.

As The Tyee reported Monday, at BC’s seven most overcapacity hospitals, at least one in six patients is being cared for in unfunded “surge beds,” often in hallways and other inappropriate spaces. These patients are at an increased risk of developing delirium and other negative health outcomes.

Hospital overcapacity also negatively affects emergency departments, which get backed up because their beds are occupied by patients waiting to be moved to hospital wards for care or treatment. This has a cascading effect on new patients waiting to be seen by a doctor in the emergency department; they often endure long wait times and sometimes give up and leave without being seen ...

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