dialamah

It's COVID patients that caused all this. And with Anti-Vaxxers poised to fill ICUs up again this fall, we'll see more strain. 

The big problem with COVID patients and nurses is that untrained nurses are moved to help in ICUs because that's all they can do. It's not what they trained for. 

There's a massive Nursing shortage all over right now. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-health-care-workers-warn-of-brutal-nurse-shortage-as-hospitals-brace-for-4th-wave-1.6150255

Now the trend is upward again, but the numbers are not.

As more people get infected, more will end up in hospital.  Over 90% of the people who end up in hospital due to Covid are unvaccinated.

How about a huge backlog of non-covid patients, cancer and heart disease who are waiting on hold for their diagnostics and treatment.

As more people sick with Covid take up hospital beds and staff resources, the fewer beds/resources are available to people with heart disease, cancer etc.   Unless you are suggesting that critically ill Covid patients be refused hospital care, so that less critically ill patients can receive care?

 There is no serious discussion about providing better resources to hospitals so that we can accommodate both the covid patients and the other serious health issues people face at large. Many of which typically kill more each year than covid.

Over 90% of the people who end up in hospital due to Covid are unvaccinated.  Rather than expecting government (and taxpayers) to subsidize the irresponsibility of anti-vaxers, anti-maskers and misinformation spreaders, do your part and get vaccinated, practice and support mask-wearing and stop spreading misinformation.  

And, there are only so many nurses and other medical professionals available.  Many have already quit due to the stress of dealing with extremely ill and dying patients, with no end in sight (thank you anti-vaxers, anti-maskers, misinformation spreaders for ensuring there will continue to be lots of sick people).   It takes years to train up new medical personnel; they won't be ready in time for this crisis.  The best we could hope for is more help for the next one.

Many of which typically kill more each year than covid.

Over 90% of the people who end up in hospital due to Covid are unvaccinated.  Are you suggesting that these critically ill patients be refused beds in favor of less critically ill patients?   I'm sure if someone with heart disease/cancer/etc. is as sick or sicker than a Covid patient, they'll be triaged in.  But those who are not so critically sick, won't be.  If you are worried about these people not having their diseases even diagnosed, then get vaccinated, wear a mask, support those who do, and stop spreading misinformation.

If anti-vaxers/etc. were really concerned about cancer patients/heart patients/drug addicts/old folks/etc., the way they claim to be, they'd get vaccinated, wear a mask and stop spreading misinformation while bleating about their "right" to put others at risk.

All of the problems you highlighted are real. The difference is I’m saying this does not need to be a zero sum game. We must be more pragmatic in our thinking. Like this;

Problem, solution.