December brought with it a ruthless flu season, which saw a spike in many illnesses. The occurrence of influenza, COVID, adenovirus, and RSV became so severe, that the Janeway children’s hospital cancelled some routine surgeries and appointments.
The children’s hospital reported nearly three times the normal number of children showing up at the emergency department, with a jump from around 55 patients per day to 160 per day.
The spike in illness was not the only problem facing respiratory healthcare in the province in December, as the Association of Allied Health Professionals revealed a shortage in respiratory therapists, with six having left the province since September, mainly due to poor working conditions.
31 for 811
A lack of respiratory therapists was not the only issue revealed in the healthcare system in December, as the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association would reveal details of governments contract with Fonemed, the provider of the 811 service.
The NLMA says Fonemed’s five-year, over $31 million contract translates to roughly $82 per call made to 811, compared to $37 for a standard in-person visit and $47 for a virtual care visit with a family physician, who were already feeling “overstretched and undervalued”.
Fonemed President Charlene Brophy would respond to the NLMA, saying that taking the $31 million and dividing it by the number of calls is not an accurate representation of the value of their service or the cost of providing it.
Not By Air or Sea
Frustration would be felt beyond the province’s borders, as difficulties with Christmas travel would plague those looking to come home to the island.
On December 19, some 200 air travelers looking to fly into St. John’s on a direct flight were stranded at Pearson Airport, with WestJet cancelling their flight and saying no emergency flight would be brought in. The travelers were told they might not get home until boxing day.
Those stranded would have to wait hours upon hours for accommodations and meal vouchers, with no answer to the cause of the cancellation.
WestJet would apologize, however some were forced into the choice of celebrating the holiday away from home or taking on the personal expense of booking another flight without reimbursement.
While logistics issues plagued the air, Mother Nature and mechanical issues made sure to throw a wrench into the plans of those travelling by ferry for the holidays.
Only a few days before Christmas, Marine Atlantic ferry Blue Puttees was forced to return to North Sydney as mechanical issues prevented it from docking. That, followed by a storm delaying crossings, ensured that any would not make it home for Christmas Eve, with the ferry arriving at the daybreak of Christmas morning.
Tightening the Belt
December each year brings with it the tabling of many municipal budgets, and, due to the rising cost of fuel and inflation, a sense of apprehension.
Some of the province’s largest municipalities, including Mount Pearl, Paradise, CBS, and Portugal Cove-St. Philips increased their mil rate for residents.
St. John’s, Corner Brook, Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor avoided a mil rate increase for residents.
Virtually every major municipality were forced to increase water and sewer tax, and property assessments were up across the board.
