Grey Bruce Health Services is pausing all scheduled, non-urgent surgeries and procedures effective January 5th in order to preserve critical care and human resource capacity.
The Hospital organization says Ontario’s Chief Medial Officer of Health made the announcement yesterday.
Grey Bruce Health Services President and CEO Gary Sims says in a statement, “We recognize that this provincial order causes stress for our patients who have been waiting for their elective procedures, and as soon as we are able, we will work to re-book these appointments,” said Gary Sims, GBHS President and CEO. “In the meantime, all urgent and emergency surgeries and procedures will be provided, 24/7 as per usual.”
The hospital says, services are expected to resume by January 26.
Scheduled endoscopy services are being postponed until at least the beginning of February. This provincial directive does not affect diagnostic imaging such as x-rays, MRIs and CT scans.
GBHS says all patients with pre-scheduled surgeries and procedures are being called by their doctor’s office. GBHS is asking patients to wait for instructions rather than calling their doctor or the hospital.
There are also changes to eligibility for COVID-19 Testing. GBHS says those with mild symptoms are not being tested. Last week, the Ministry of Health issued new criteria for who can be tested at publicly funded COVID-19 Assessment Centres. The provincial government is now asking those with mild COVID-19 symptoms who are healthy and vaccinated to stay home, and not get tested. There are exceptions for those at higher risk of illness and vulnerable populations.
Effective Wednesday, January 5, 2022, GBHS Assessment Centres will follow those new guidelines.
The number of visitors in GBHS hospitals is also now reduced to one per patient. Some exceptions apply for patients in palliative care and children.
GBHS says there is an outbreak on one unit in the Owen Sound Regional Hospital. (Unit 6-2 Medicine) Three patients and two staff tested positive for COVID, and all are asymptomatic. Unit 6-2 has been closed to visitors, admissions and discharges, and enhanced precautions are in place. GBHS says no other services at the hospital are impacted by this situation.