Reduction in elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries coming to GBGH
January 7, 2022 – Effective immediately, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is ramping down elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries as directed by the Ontario government. This provincial direction is intended to preserve bed capacity and healthcare staffing levels in response to rising COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. Urgent and emergent surgeries and procedures will continue at the hospital.
Areas impacted by the reduction in non-urgent and elective services include surgery, ambulatory care and diagnostic imaging. GBGH and physicians are working together to determine which procedures and surgeries will be postponed in the coming weeks. If a scheduled 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.
If an individual has a requisition from their family physician for a non-urgent diagnostic imaging procedure (i.e. X-ray), GBGH is asking that they delay walk-in visits to have this procedure completed at the hospital.
“We understand the postponement of surgeries and procedures can be frustrating and stressful for patients and their families, but it is essential to preserving both bed and staff capacity in the hospital system right now,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “We are facing one of the most challenging times during the pandemic and must make difficult decisions to ensure resources can be directed where they’re needed the most.”
Postponed surgeries and procedures will be re-scheduled once the directive is lifted by the provincial government. Once full services resume, GBGH will make every effort to re-schedule postponed surgeries and procedures in a timely manner.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177