Published Apr 10, 2025 • 2 minute readThe province plans to reopen the intensive care unit at Summerside’s PCH by this summer. File Photo Photo by SaltWire Network /SaltWire NetworkThe P.E.I. government plans to fully reopen the Prince County Hospital intensive care unit (ICU) in the summer.The Summerside hospital has been without a full-fledged intensive care unit after the departure of internal medicine specialists in 2023 effectively hobbled the hospital’s ability to maintain a 24-hour unit.Departures of registered nurses soon followed, which compounded the issue. Despite Health P.E.I.’s concerted efforts to recruit physicians and critical care nurses for the hospital’s current unit, now known as a progressive care unit, the downgrading prompted community frustration.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentA winter 2024 public town hall drew hundreds who expressed frustration with Health P.E.I. for the downgrading of the unit.The plans to reopen the unit come two years after Health P.E.I. confirmed the departure of IM physicians at the PCH.In her budget speech on April 10, Finance Minister Jill Burridge said the governing Progressive Conservatives have since taken steps to “stabilize health care” and that these steps “are beginning to work.”“We see it in improved access to care, in shorter wait times, and the return of full-time internal medicine coverage at Prince County Hospital, allowing their ICU to formally reopen this summer,” Burridge said. Finance Minister Jill Burridge delivers the 2025-2026 budget address on April 10. Stu Neatby The GuardianIn an interview, Health Minister Mark McLane confirmed the province has recently recruited a new internal medicine specialist, the sixth confirmed IM doctor assigned to PCH.“There’s a scarcity of them both in Canada and worldwide. So we’re very pleased that the six IM chose Prince Edward Island,” McLane said.Article contentHowever the bigger need may be registered nurses trained in critical care. Health P.E.I. has said it would need 18 critical care RNs, alongside six IM doctors and 10 respiratory therapists, to reopen the PCH ICU.“Critical care nursing continues to be a shortage at the PCH. At any one time, we need about eight to 13 critical care nurses – travel nurses – to support the unit,” McLane said. The province plans to reopen the intensive care unit at Summerside’s Prince County Hospital this summer. Health Minister Mark McLane said the province recently hired a new internal medicine specialist who will be the sixth to work at the PCH ICU. Stu Neatby The GuardianThe use of private travel nurses, who are paid often substantially more than unionized Health P.E.I. nurses, has been a sore point for many. However, Health P.E.I. relies upon travel nurses to staff 30-40 per cent of the shifts at the PCH neonatal intensive care unit and at the current progressive care unit, McLane said.McLane added he was unsure how many beds there will be in the ICU once it reopens.“I think that’s the most important part is that we staff appropriately with the workforce that we have,” McLane said.Article content
Summerside’s PCH ICU to reopen this summer, says P.E.I. health minister
