Hospitals across Grey Bruce are adjusting their operations in response to the challenges currently faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a release from the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Grey Bruce Health Services and Hanover and District Hospital, the escalating bed capacity challenges across the province and a directive issued by the Ministry of Health on April 20th, all non-emergent and non-urgent elective surgeries and procedures will be stopped.
In Addition, the three hospital organizations are increasing their bed capacity. This measure is being taken, according to the release, to ensure hospital staff are available to provide care for the additional beds that have been opened.
Be advised, all urgent and emergent surgeries will continue, and all impacted patients will be contacted directly by their physician’s office. Physicians will also evaluate their patients and provide care as needed. Residents are asked to not contact the hospitals or their physician’s office.
According to the release, the number of Covid positive patients in ICU beds are increasing dramatically, especially in the GTA. To address this issue, hospitals outside the GTA have been asked to take on patients from other hospitals that have become overwhelmed.
Starting April 21st, South Bruce Grey Health Centre (SBGHC) says five additional surge beds will be opened at the Walkerton Hospital, and the three surge beds previously opened at the Kincardine hospital will remain open. As staffing is stretched thin, other health professionals alongside nurses will be providing support for these beds.
SBGHC President and CEO Michael Barrett says, “we fully support a seamless provincial hospital system that will accept patients from other hospitals, share resources and prioritize services so all hospitals can continue to provide safe, effective care to both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients.”
At Grey Bruce Health Services (GBHS), starting on Monday (April 26), all pre-booked elective and non-urgent surgeries are being postponed.
According to GBHS, they are currently caring for seven Covid patients and their ICU is full. They have opened 20 additional beds to look after acute care patients and are increasing their beds in the ICU from six to eight.
GBHS states, up to 20 more beds will be opening across the six GBHS hospitals for the people waiting to transfer to an alternate level of care.
President and CEO of GBHS Gary Sims says, “The Ministry issued this Directive because we are in a critical situation, and difficult choices have to be made to save lives. We will do everything we can to get those surgeries re-booked when we have the capacity and human resources to do so safely.”
Earlier this month Hanover and District Hospital (HDH), on April 12th reduced its surgical services to only urgent and emergent surgeries and according to the hospital, impacted patients have been contacted.
HDH says at this time, diagnostic imaging services have not been reduced, but will be evaluated as the provincial Covid situation continues.
As a way to support local, regional and provincial needs, HDH does have 12 additional beds ready to be opened and staffed.
HDH CEO and President Dana Howes says, all of their beds need to be viewed as system-wide resources to ensure that patients across the province receive safe, quality and appropriate care for both Covid positive and non-positive patients.
Visiting restrictions across all Grey Bruce hospitals are also in place to ensure the safety of everyone on the premises. Patients, caregivers and family members can visit the hospital websites for more details.
