Some health-care workers in the Halifax area are expressing concerns over how they are being prepared to deal with Ebola, should it hit Nova Scotia.
Trish MacDonald, a registered nurse at the Halifax Infirmary, says many nurses are concerned about the deadly virus.
“In the emerg and the ICU, they feel very overwhelmed and feel that they don't have the proper education and they certainly don't feel like they have the proper protective equipment necessary in order to care for these patients,” says MacDonald.
Capital Health says it has the necessary equipment and a formal planning team has been in place since September, involving all areas of Capital Health.
However, MacDonald says questions are being raised about whether the equipment meets international standards and whether there has been adequate training.
“We've been directed to the one-hour video on the Internet site, as well as self-directed reading, and only a few people have had some one-on-one in-servicing with an educator,” she says.
Questions on the topic were raised in the Nova Scotia Legislature Wednesday.
“Our province is in the extremely low-risk category, I think that needs to be stated first and foremost,” says Nova Scotia Health Minister Leo Glavine.
NDP MLA Dave Wilson says no one wants to see Ebola hit Nova Scotia, but that health-care workers should be ready just in case.
“It’s important that our health-care workers feel protected and that they have the appropriate gear,” says Wilson. “Can the minister ease the anxiety of health-care workers by ensuring the protective clothing on order would meet the approval of the CDC?”
Glavine indicated his department is working with all districts when it comes to education and information. He says what has been adopted in Nova Scotia are the best practices that are being implemented across Canada.
“I think Canadians can be well assured, and we here in Nova Scotia, that while everybody may not be quite at the level that we want, we are certainly working toward that,” says Glavine.
A spokesperson for Capital Health says a video has been produced as a refresher and to provide basic information for staff, but is not meant to replace training.
The spokesperson says training, in regards to the personal protective equipment, is and has been taking place with staff in person, in areas that would directly handle a case of Ebola if it were to present itself in Nova Scotia.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster
