Don't wait to seek urgent medical care, local hospitals urge public

Citing “too many cases” of people with stroke and heart attack symptoms delaying going to the emergency department because of COVID-19 concerns, local hospitals are reminding the public their emergency departments are open and safe.

“If you feel unwell and think you require urgent or emergent care, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital emergency department,” Windsor Regional Hospital says in a Friday news release. “Medical professionals are there to care for you, just as they were before the COVID -19 pandemic.”

In addition to acute care services, cancer care, urgent and emergency diagnostic imaging (including X-rays and MRIS) and critical surgical services continue to be provided. Starting Monday, local hospitals will resume with elective procedures that were postponed due to COVID, though they’re warning it could take many weeks to catch up.

Hospitals have reduced the risks to patients and staff by enhanced screening, increased cleaning, wearing personal protective equipment and limiting visitors.

“There are too many cases where patients have come to the ED much later than they should have; people who may have had a stroke or heart attack,” said Windsor Regional emergency physician Dr. David Ng, the Erie St. Clair lead for emergency services. “If you are very ill or have an emergency health issue, please seek care at the

ED and don’t wait.”

Leamington’s Erie Shores Healthcare offered a similar warning Friday.

“We are concerned that people with urgent emergency health issues have stayed home or delayed seeking care over the past few months because of the pandemic,” chief of staff and interim CEO Dr. Ross Moncur said. “We can reassure everyone that, despite COVID, we remain here to help.”

When people suffering a heart attack or stroke present late, they may miss the crucial window of opportunity when medical experts can intervene with life-saving clot-busting drugs or medical procedures.

Signs of a heart attack can include chest pain that can radiate down the arm and sometimes occur during physical exertion such as mowing the lawn, and they can include difficulty breathing. For stroke, it can be a sudden loss of function in an arm or leg, difficulty with speech or onset of dizziness.

For non-emergency health needs, patients are asked to access their family doctor or use a virtual walk-in clinic.