By Geoff Agombar
Local Journalism Initiative
CHUS – Hôpital Fleurimont continues to struggle with critically high admissions in its pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
A Monday news release from Santé Estrie says Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections among very young infants are spiking earlier than usual.
Pediatrician Sylvie Lafrenaye told Radio-Canada that she has never seen a situation like this in her 20 years working in intensive care.
Assistant head nurse Sylvie Tanguay told Radio-Canada the situation on Oct. 10 reached the point where there were insufficient beds to accept incoming pediatric patients. Sick children were diverted to smaller departments in Granby or Drummondville because the Fleurimont pediatric ICU was full.
Santé Estrie explains that RSV infections normally peak during the winter, but it is already very active in the region this year. Like many regions across the province, the situation is further complicated by significant labour shortages.
Santé Estrie stresses that the management team is closely monitoring this influx of very young ICU patients to ensure these children receive the best of care.
