The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has taken the unusual step of reminding Londoners that its emergency department remains open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the outbreak of the virus began to intensify across Ontario in mid-March, there has been a sharp decrease in the number of people going to the emergency room at the LHSC's hospitals. The drop in patients comes as people are seemingly avoiding health care facilities out of fear of contracting COVID-19.
"For pediatric emergencies, we are well below 50 per cent of our usual visits and that has been pretty consistent since COVID-19 started," said Dr. Rod Lim, medical director of the paediatric emergency department at Children’s Hospital. "I have had a number of parents reach out to me with obvious distress with what to do with their child, realizing they are afraid to bring their child to the emergency department."
Health-care professionals worry the refusal to visit the hospital by those with serious medical issues will ultimately result in a loss of lives.
"We know from other countries that have had COVID for longer or more extreme than us, the fear of going to the emergency department for children stays for quite a long time, even in New York and Italy the volumes are down," said Lim. "We have had publications of adverse outcomes, tragic outcomes in children who have delayed care for non-COVID related reasons and that weighs on our minds heavily."
In an effort to calm COVID-19 fear, the hospital network is reassuring the public that it is a safe place to visit for emergency care. All patients and visitors are screened for the virus before being allowed to enter the hospital and anyone suspected of having COVID-19 is immediately separated from all other patients. Under new safety measures introduced by the hospital, everyone coming into the emergency room is required to wear a face mask.
"With all of the precautions that we are taking we can keep patients safe and keep our staff members safe," said Dr. Christie MacDonald, interim chief of emergency medicine at LHSC. "I would encourage patients to come. We are here to see them and provide care. We are putting all measures in place including masking, adequate handwashing, wearing personal protective equipment, really just doing everything possible to keep everyone safe."
Those unsure whether their condition warrants a trip to the emergency room are advised to contact their family physician or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
The London Health Sciences Centre currently has 27 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in its care. An outbreak of the virus on Victoria Hospital’s geriatric behavioural unit, first reported on April 11, continues. The outbreak on the south London hospital's oncology unit has been resolved. To-date, 38 hospital employees have tested positive for COVID-19, but not all of their cases are linked to the health-care facility.
