Bluewater Health is experiencing a surge in patients seeking treatment for respiratory illnesses, in all age groups, at its Sarnia site.
While children’s hospitals across Canada are struggling to accommodate more patients with Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RSV], Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Chris Borek said they're experiencing a range of viral infections.
"The vast majority of the patients that present to Bluewater Health, particularly the emergency department, we don't test to see if they have RSV," said Borek. "We have been seeing a significant increase in the number of total respiratory illnesses, which includes RSV as one of the main culprits."
Dr. Borek said the number of cases has been up hospital wide through the first 10 months of the year.
"So compared to last year, we're seeing about a 50 per cent increase so far in September and October and anticipate the same in November. Over the course of the whole year, in comparison to last year, to date, we're nearing the total number of respiratory cases that we had over the entire course of last year."
In the emergency department, cases of respiratory illness have been up by about 10 to 15 per cent over the last few months, and Dr. Borek said extra staff have been assigned to help manage the increase.
"We've been doing that generally since [the start of] the pandemic. We've been seeing an increased volume, which is putting a strain on not just our department, but the healthcare system in general. At least at present we've been able to manage locally. Although, we're starting to see a significant strain on the ICU capacity for pediatric patients in Ontario."
To help children's hospitals cope, local hospitals have been directed to use adult ICU beds for anyone over the age of 14 requiring critical care.
"We appreciate the community's patience with these increased volumes that we're seeing, and increased waits that sometimes result from that. We ask people to be polite during their visits because we share a lot of the same frustrations that people have with the delay in care and we're trying the best that we can."
Bluewater Health said local clinical assessment centres are offering respiratory assessment and treatment for those experiencing non-emergency respiratory health issues.
Patients can book appointments online to see a primary care practitioner at the Twin Bridges Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic and Rapids Family Health Team in Sarnia, or the Plympton-Wyoming Health & Wellness Centre on Broadway Street in Wyoming.
Bluewater Health said the clinics also have access to pediatric expertise.
For more information, or to book an appointment, click here.
He encouraged everyone to update their vaccinations and booster shots to help reduce the chance of needing in-hospital admissions.
