Officials have declared a Code Census at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in downtown Halifax.

The Code Census protocol is implemented to ease the burden on the emergency department, by moving non-emergency patients to other units and also having other units speed up discharges.

According to Everton McLean, a Nova Scotia Health Authority spokesperson, other units in the hospital "expand capacity and expedite discharges."

McLean said there are approximately 10 Code Census notifications per month. There were five in July, but only one in June. He did not have updated information for August.

McLean couldn't confirm reports that there are zero free beds in the QEII, but an online reference document about Code Census on the Nova Scotia government's website states:

"It is triggered when the number of admitted patients occupying ER beds is blocking access to the ER by patients who need emergency care."

Inpatient units are currently moving some patients to waiting rooms or stretchers. Decisions about individual patient treatment and discharge are made on a case-by-case basis, McLean said.

He advised anyone requiring emergency care to still visit their closest hospital emergency room.