About 1 in 7 hospital beds on P.E.I. holding a long-term care patient [Video]

MLAs expressed frustration at the legislature health committee meeting Wednesday, hearing about the number of patients in hospital acute care beds waiting for a space in long-term care.

Representatives of Health P.E.I. and the Department of Health and Wellness made a presentation to the committee about what is happening in long-term care in the province, and took questions.

The MLAs were presented with data that showed the number of days beds in each of the Island’s hospitals were occupied by patients waiting for long-term care. Across the province, about 14 per cent of available hospital bed space was occupied in this way.

That varied by hospital, from a low of a little more than seven per cent at Prince County Hospital, to almost one in three at Souris Hospital.

Erin Bentley, senior public health policy and planning officer for the Department of Health, said the province is trying to balance …