Beginning Tuesday, March 17, we are postponing elective surgeries and non-urgent ambulatory procedures as part of our COVID-19 response.
The Ontario Government has asked that all hospitals ramp down elective surgeries and other non-emergent clinical activity to protect patient safety and increase capacity for healthcare workers to respond to COVID-19.
We are taking a carefully planned approach to accomplish this goal responsibly and with the best interests of our patients’ and team’s health and well-being in mind.
“These are very difficult decisions, as we understand the impact a postponed procedure will have on everyone from patients to members of our care team,” said Derek McNally, Niagara Health's Executive Vice President, Clinical Services & Chief Nursing Executive. “However, we need to be cognizant of the fact that this is not business as usual, and we are doing all that we can to support a robust and effective response to COVID-19.”
As decisions are made, we will contact patients directly to let them know of the status of their procedures. These notifications will begin today. A member of the care team will follow up with patients as soon as we are able to reschedule their procedure.
We anticipate these changes will continue for a number of weeks, and we will provide updates as they become available.
The situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve quickly. We are extremely grateful to our team for their hard work to support our patients and families during this time. They continue to respond with care, compassion and the highest standards of professionalism.
We greatly appreciate the public’s support, understanding and co-operation during these challenges times.
Helpful resources
- Niagara Health Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19
- Niagara Region Public Health
- Public Health Agency of Canada information on Coronaviruses
- Government of Ontario - Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCOv)
- Latest travel advice
- Tips to stay healthy and prevent the spread of illness
Please check back regularly for updates related to the hospital’s COVID-19 response.
