Hospitals gearing up for elective surgeries: premier
Hospitals are preparing to resume elective surgeries and other procedures put on hold because of the COVID -19 pandemic, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Thursday. “We’re telling the hospitals to get ready, we’re telling patients to get ready, and we’re hopeful many of these scheduled surgeries can start soon,” said Ford.
“I know the delays have led to anxiety and stress, but I hope today can help ease some concerns.”
The province has been able to free up more than 5,000 acutecare beds because of the postponements, said Ford. “This critical capacity has meant we’ve been prepared for any potential surge in COVID-19 cases — we had to be ready for absolutely anything, and we have been.”
Hospitals will have to satisfy a number of criteria — such as stable supplies of PPE, medications, beds and post-discharge care — before they can offer scheduled surgeries and use prescribed criteria to prioritize patients waiting for those procedures. Ford suggested that cancer and cardiac surgeries will be the first to come back online but that every hospital can plan around its own situation. The timelines will vary.
Ontario’s long-term care system will undergo a review once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton announced.
According to a database maintained by Fullerton’s ministry, the virus has killed 1,111 residents in LTC homes to date.
“The system is broken. Longterm care has endured years of neglect. Once we emerge from this pandemic, we will get to the bottom of this. Yes, there will be a review,” Fullerton tweeted.
“There will come a time to discuss the scale, scope and terms of a review, but our priority today must be to protect people’s lives and continue to bend the curve.”
Meanwhile, Ontario’s cottage country mayors have one message for those thinking of opening their cottages: Do not travel to your vacation home.
Ford spoke with the mayors Wednesday and they asked visitors to hold off visiting these regions until it is safe to do so, he said.
Ford also hinted that cottage owners should refrain from travelling for the Victoria Day long weekend, saying “there will be plenty of long weekends to come.”
On Monday, Ontario retailers with street entrances will be allowed to offer curbside pickup as well as delivery.
Asked when customers can expect to return to in-store shopping, Ford said they will have to wait — and space is the reason. Some stores are small and aisles are tight, he said.
“Please hang in there a little bit, we’ll get to that point.”