Sent on behalf of Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President & CEO, TBRHSC, CEO, TBRHRI and Dr. Peter Voros, COVID-19 Incident Manager, EVP In-Patient Care Programs
Our Hospital, like others across the Province, continues to respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to protecting the health and safety of staff, professional staff, patients and the community while also addressing the acute care needs of the people we serve.
As of April 21st, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health issued an amended Directive #2, replacing the Directive #2 issued on May 26, 2020. The new Directive #2 requires that all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures be paused, with the exception of surgeries and procedures performed in pediatric specialty hospitals.
Emergent and urgent surgeries will not be impacted. All patients will also continue to have access to other health services, including services that are peripheral to surgical services. Our Hospital will be pausing non-emergent/non-urgent services as identified by the main principals in the Directive, which are to preserve system capacity and deal effectively with the impact of COVID-19.
Decisions about the pausing of surgeries/procedures will follow the principles outlined in Directive #2 (https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/directives/RHPA_professionals.pdf) including, proportionality, minimizing harm to patients, equity and reciprocity. Our clinicians are best positioned to determine this based on an individual patient specific needs assessment and a fair and transparent process.
We will continue to work closely with system partners, locally, regionally and Provincially as the current situation evolves. We are monitoring closely as there is the potential for further action in an expeditious manner, and we must ensure that we are well positioned to pivot, if necessary, to a further reduction of surgeries and procedures. Additionally, we have plans in place to add critical care capacity, while supporting additional non-critical care surge to ensure our continued focus on those with the highest needs.
Thank you for your responsiveness, professionalism and commitment during these challenging times.