Ministry of Health has told the North Bay Regional Hospital to stop all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures in order to clear space for a potential influx of COVID-19 patients.
A post to its website this afternoon says, "beginning Monday April 26, our Health Centre will begin reducing some surgeries and procedures that can be safely delayed. Health care providers will continue to prioritize all essential services including urgent procedures (cancer) and trauma."
Decisions to postpone surgeries should be balanced with the real or anticipated capacity needed to maintain the health and human resources to deliver essential and urgent health services across the system and minimize harm to patients adds the directive.
"Only those patients whose appointments are cancelled will be notified. If you do not receive a call, your surgery/appointment will proceed. Closer to the date, you will receive instructions to prepare and what to do upon arrival," adds the website.
Emergent and urgent surgeries will not be impacted at this time.
"Our emergency department remains open. In an emergency, please don’t hesitate or delay receiving care. Our Health Centre is prepared to safely provide care to all our patients."
The directive, issued by Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, will have an immediate impact on hospitals in northern Ontario.
Meanwhile, the North Bay Regional Health Centre says it received the first patient transfer from southern Ontario today as part of its commitment to provide support due to the critical care capacity pressures facing Ontario's hospitals.
