UPDATE: Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Responds to New Provincial Directive
CHATHAM-KENT: January 4, 2022 – In response to yesterday’s provincial announcement, which included an update on Ontario Health’s Directive #2, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) will pause all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures in order to preserve critical care and human resource capacity, effective 12:01 a.m. January 5, 2022. Due to the annual Operating Room (OR) holiday schedule, which typically sees a reduction in services, CKHA had planned accordingly to ramp down its surgeries and procedures.
During this temporary ramp down period, CKHA will continue with emergency and urgent surgeries and procedures, including surgeries to treat cancer. Based on historical data, CKHA estimates that an average of 59 elective local procedures and an average of 117 OR cases, would be postponed on a weekly basis. Examples of procedures that are postponed during this period include joints, gynecological procedures, tonsils, and cataracts. The temporary ramp down of services also include Ambulatory Care and outpatient therapy clinics. Medical Day Care services are being temporarily shifted from CKHA’s Wallaceburg location to Chatham; patients are currently being contacted about this change.
As per the updated directive to Ontario hospitals, the decision to postpone non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures is based on rising critical care needs across the health system due to alarming COVID-19 case counts. This time-limited measures ensures that hospitals across the province can meet the increased demand for critical care, redeploy staff if needed and respond to the health human resource challenges that are occurring. As of January 4, 2022, CKHA’s Intensive Care Unit sits at 100% occupancy. Due to these capacity strains in the ICU, two patients have been transferred from CKHA to London.
Patients will be contacted directly from their physician’s office in advance if their scheduled surgeries/procedures and appointments are affected. CKHA asks that patients do not call the hospital regarding their procedures; patients will hear from their physician’s office directly if a change is required. Follow up questions can be directed to their physician’s office.
CKHA will continuously monitor this ramp down measure with great care and consideration. The hospital thanks its patients, families and care partners for their patience and understanding during this newest challenge in the pandemic.
The status of the pandemic continues to be assessed regularly. More information will become available with any changes to this situation.
