(Strathroy, ON) – Middlesex Hospital Alliance (MHA) continues to monitor the increasing COVID-19 cases and community transmission at the local, regional and provincial levels. Given increasing case counts and widespread community transmission across many parts of the province, hospitals are facing mounting and extreme pressure on our critical care and health human resource capacity.
In response to escalating bed capacity challenges and human resource shortages across the province, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore issued an updated COVID-19 Directive #2 for Health Care Providers on January 5, 2022.
The updated Directive requires all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries, procedures and ambulatory visits to cease. The postponement of these services are necessary to ensure hospital staff are available to provide care for the additional beds that are required.
As a result, MHA will be following the recommendations of Directive 2 in terms of reducing both surgeries, procedures and ambulatory activity to Emergent and Urgent only – effective end of day Friday, January 7, 2022. This is being done as a result of the significant impacts the COVID-Omicron variant is putting on the health system, locally, regionally, and provincially.
All impacted patients will be contacted directly by their physician’s offices or the hospital. Patients who have not been contacted should come to their scheduled appointment. We are encouraging the public not to call the hospitals or their physician’s office.
Our hospital sites are safe to provide care, including the Emergency Department. MHA adheres to the strictest infection prevention and control procedures, including entrance screening, environmental cleaning, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protocols as well as thorough disinfection and sterilization of medical equipment.
It is important that you do not delay seeking care for any urgent or emergent needs. If you have an emergency or serious medical injury/condition, call 911 or go to your local Emergency Department.
For local hospital inquiries:
Julie McBrien
Vice President, Clinical Services & Chief Nursing Officer
Middlesex Hospital Alliance
Julie.McBrien@mha.tvh.ca
519-245-5295 ext:5506