Military medical aid is a welcome sight in Saskatchewan hospitals | The Canadian News

Frontline workers battling the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan received a helping hand from the Canadian military last week.

Operation Laser Saskatchewan is in the province to ease some of the strain on overflowing intensive care units.

Once they landed, they started running. After a day of training with local front-line personnel, the military nurses and medical technicians were in the ICUs the next day.

Major Linda Jackson, Senior Nursing Officer for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), says: “The reception of the team has been well received by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and Regina General Hospital (RGH) . From the leadership to the kitchen staff to the cleaning staff to the doctors, he has been overwhelmingly positive and appreciative. “

The overflow of patients in Saskatchewan ICUs has affected local medical staff and resources. The team that flew in to help from Ottawa is impressed with the way SHA has reallocated resources and has been happy to help RGH staff by giving them a little break and easing the patient load.

Captain Doug Murphy, CAF Senior Nursing Officer, says: “I feel very privileged to be here and to be accepted for this task and to be able to go to the hospital, do the job that we are trained to do, and be able to provide the best possible care to the patient. patient for these sick patients and hopefully have a better outcome for them. “

The team is made up of 15 members: six critical care nurses working in ICUs (4 helping with the overflow in the medical care unit, 2 in the cardiac care unit), four general duty nurses joined by four technicians physicians to support health care units and a senior nursing officer.

Despite the challenges, Major Jackson says, “Morale is high, we are truly very proud to have been selected and to come to Saskatchewan to support our fellow healthcare professionals at a time when there has been increased pressure and we are very proud to serve Canadians in need. “

On the medical floor, the team is dressed in uniform and does not stand out the way it does when in uniform. When they interact with patients and learn about the team’s mission, they are grateful for the help they provide to the province.

“It is very gratifying to give back to these patients,” adds Captain Murphy. “Patients are happy with what we provide them. It makes you feel good at the end of the day. “

The team is scheduled to be in Saskatchewan through Nov. 19, but it will be up to the provincial and federal governments to decide whether they will stay, move, or return home.

This is also the first time that the members of the task force have worked together, and they are very proud of how they have quickly adapted to their roles and have managed everything smoothly.