The Vancouver Island Health Authority has reopened the pediatric unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to adult patients, despite protests from pediatricians.
In November, doctors went public with their concerns regarding the health authority's practice of putting adults on the children's ward and a letter signed by five pediatricians connected with the ward was sent to the media.
Shortly afterward, adult patients were taken off the unit, but Friday the health authority announced a four-bed adult medical overflow room has been temporarily re-opened due to significant patient volumes.
"Right now we are disappointed and frustrated that this is seen as acceptable," said Dr. Jane Pegg. "Kids deserve a protected, safe space in our hospital."
The four-bed room is in the middle of the ward adjacent to the children's playroom, she said, and has displaced the pediatric equipment normally stored in that room.
The health authority news release states that the adult room on the children's ward will be the first area to be cleared as capacity issues improve.
Elin Bjarnason, executive director of patient flow and care transitions for the health authority, said health officials hope to close that room by Monday.
"We've had a high number of patients needing our services," she said.
After pediatricians went to the media in November, Bjarnason said the health authority reviewed its patient placement practices and guidelines and during that time, no patients were placed on the ward. The review found practices safe, but added the requirement that only adult females be admitted to the children's ward, that a maximum of four adults will be placed on the ward and only the overflow room will be used for adults.
"We're still screening for infectious diseases," she added.
But Pegg said she doesn't trust the health authority to adequately screen patients – doctors believe some patients placed on the ward posed safety risks to children and in November, one adult on the ward was diagnosed with Clostridium difficile, despite strict guidelines already in place.
"No protocol that they develop to screen patients is acceptable," she said. "It's irrelevant and beside the point from my perspective. The kids need to have a space in the hospital that is theirs."