GBGH ramps down some elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries
April 10, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is ramping down elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries, as directed by the Ontario government, effective Monday, April 12, 2021. This direction is in response to critical care capacity and health human resource concerns in some areas of the province. As the hospital system experiences high volumes of critically ill COVID-19 positive patients, these measures are being taken to preserve capacity in all hospitals which could be called on to take patients from outside their region.
GBGH and physicians are working together to determine which procedures and surgeries will proceed in the coming weeks. Urgent and emergent surgeries and procedures will continue.
If a procedure or surgery is postponed, patients will be contacted by the hospital or their physician’s office. If a patient has not been contacted about postponement, their procedure is continuing as scheduled.
“We understand the postponement of surgeries and procedures can be frustrating and stressful for patients and their families, but it essential to preserving capacity in the hospital system,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Hospitals across the province must do their part to be prepared for worst case scenarios and support organizations feeling the full effects of critical care capacity challenges. These measures are being taken to help balance the load across the system during critical care surges.”
GBGH has eight critical care beds and is continuing to reserve a portion of those beds in the event they are needed by patients outside the North Simcoe region.
Across the province there are approximately 2,000 critical care beds – 1,200 to 1,400 of which are typically occupied by patients who do not have COVID-19. As of April 9, there were nearly 550 COVID-19 patients in Ontario’s critical beds. The number of beds needed to care for critically ill COVID-19 patients is projected to continue rising in the coming weeks to more than 900, causing a critical care capacity crisis.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177