Nova Scotia announced on Thursday that they’re taking steps to combat pressure injures — commonly known as bedsores — in the province’s long-term care facilities.
Last week, the province’s Department of Health and Wellness required all long-term care facilities to immediately report the number of bedsores and the severity of them in their facilities.
The province says they’ve identified 152 stage three and four — the most severe cases — of bedsores in the province.
Bed sores are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue, which most often affect those with limited mobility.
“Wound care experts are now being identified and starting the first week of July, will visit these facilities to assess those residents. Any residents at these facilities with stage one and two injuries will also be seen,” the province said in a press release on Thursday.
The province will also adopt a new provincial standard for wound care in their facilities, and new methods of collecting data.
“We are committed to taking steps to ensure residents in long-term care facilities are getting the best care possible,” said Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey.
“These actions are about supporting dedicated staff and giving facilities the tools and information they need to address pressure injuries.”
Delorey was non-commital about whether more staff will be hired at nursing homes, saying he hasn’t had an opportunity to review the research being cited by the nurses.
He also said there are currently no firm plans for his government to bring in changes to the standards in the Homes for Special Care Act in the fall legislative session.
Nurses union responds
The Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union proposed on Thursday implementing higher standards for the level of licensed staffing in the homes.
The union is calling for “staffing standards that will better guarantee the health and well being of long-term care residents,” and penalties for homes that fail to comply with those standards.
Union president Janet Hazelton says staff are attempting to care properly for residents, but there’s a lack of licensed personnel who can care for patients who need higher amounts of care.
Citing a 2001 study by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the union says that 4.1 hours of daily care, with about one hour and 20 minutes daily of that time provided by a nurse, is needed to prevent deterioration in a resident’s condition.
According to current rules in the province, nursing home operators say they are only receiving enough money for an average of three hours and 27 minutes of daily care.
NDP Leader Gary Burrill described bedsores in the province’s nursing homes as a “full-blown emergency” in a statement Thursday.
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Hazelton said the bedsore issue is a symptom of a deeper problem – and needs a wider response.
“More must be done to prevent bedsores, violence in the workplace, understaffing and other impossible barriers to quality care,” said Hazelton.
READ MORE: Preliminary report into Chrissy Dunnington’s care contain errors
The move comes after a 40-year-old woman died from a pressure ulcer the size of a fist after entering a long-term care facility earlier this year.
The province launched an investigation into her death, but Chrissy Dunnington’s sister, Elizabeth Deveau, has said there are a multitude of errors in the preliminary investigation report into the woman’s care.
On Thursday Deveau told Global News that the number released by government are only tell part of the story.
“That’s a significant number in this province. It’s worrisome, but we didn’t hear any numbers on [stage one or two bedsores], but we know they’re out there,” she said.
“People at the frontlines knowing how to care for patients who have mobility issues, who are bed ridden because if you talk to any wound care specialist they will tell you that pressure ulcers are preventable.”
WATCH: Halifax police probe death at long-term care facility
Halifax Regional Police announced last week that they’re investigating Dunnington’s death.
“It’ll be a lengthy investigation. They’ll be speaking with witnesses as well as doing some very in-depth analysis of the medical records and the care records,” said Const. Carol McIsaac at the time.
Halifax police said on Thursday that they had no update on their investigation.
With files from The Canadian Press
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