BC Children’s Hospital forced to close operating rooms due to nurse shortage

BC Children’s Hospital has been forced to shut down 25 per cent of its operating rooms, postponing about 60 elective surgeries, because of a shortage of nurses.

The hospital says the closures are part of a worldwide shortage of pediatric and operating room nurses.

Officials say they are recruiting and training staff as quickly as possible and have some operating rooms open 24/7 to look after urgent cases.

“BC Children’s Hospital has actually never found themselves in a position where they’ve been short OR nurses,” said Linda Lemke, chief operating officer with BC Children’s Hospital. “This is quite unusual.”

Every year, more than 200,000 children are treated at the hospital.

Lemke said any child who needs urgent or emergency surgery will not be affected.