It was a big fat “no” from B.C. legislators when asked to take hospital patients from Alberta..The westernmost province told its eastern neighbour it cannot take ICU patients because of its own health-care demands..“Given the current demands on B.C.’s health-care system, we will not be able to assist with taking patients at this time,” said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix in a statement Thursday after a meeting of B.C. and Alberta health officials..In the short statement, Dix also said: “We have told Alberta that if there are things we can do to support them, we will. And if we can take patients on in the future, we will..Dix, noting “we are in a global pandemic,” and added: “We salute Alberta’s health-care workers, and all health-care workers who are working tirelessly to care for patients and protect people and communities in the face of great challenge.”.Alberta’s health system is teetering on collapse with 269 patients in an intensive-care system set up for 173..Alberta Premier Jason Kenney appealed for help from the other provinces, by taking some ICU patients or sending front-line health workers to Alberta..Ontario offered to accept patient transfers if needed, said Dr. Verna Yiu, head of Alberta Health Services (AHS), and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey offered to aid in a tweet..Newfoundland and Labrador also offered help to Alberta..B.C. reported 706 new cases of COVID on Thursday, as well as four deaths linked to the illness, bringing the death toll to 1,877..B.C. Health said there are currently 5,844 active infections across the province with 291 people in hospital, including 134 in intensive care..In Alberta— which is facing a devastating fourth wave with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country—large numbers of non-urgent surgeries were cancelled because hospital staff are reassigned to COVID-19 care..BC told Alberta that if there are things it can do to support the beleaguered province in the future, it will attempt to do so.
