Windsor Regional Hospital paediatric admissions above normal capacity
Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) officials say they, like other hospitals across the province, are seeing a surge in paediatric admissions.
Ontario’s medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore is “strongly recommending” masking in all indoor public settings as some paediatric units in hospitals say they have been overwhelmed by an influx of patients in recent weeks.
Dr. Moore has not issued a mandate, but made the recommendation during an announcement Sunday as Ontario faces what he described as “three major viral threats”: COVID-19, influenza, and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).
“There's a lot of concern that these three respiratory illnesses are going to cause chaos and havoc and untenable stress on our hospital system. And we're seeing it right now,” said Dr. Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist at the University of Ottawa.
WRH officials say the increase has been felt locally as well with 23 young patients currently admitted to hospital, however, the paediatric capacity is only 16.
Officials say as per surge protocols, all 23 have been accommodated in patient rooms elsewhere in the hospital.
But Deonandan says the triple threat of illnesses is exposing more weaknesses in the hospital.
“The system as a whole has been struggling for many years COVID revealed the fragility of that system and this triple threat is now knocking it over with abandon.”
Dr. Deonandan says this should be a cause for concern for parents.
“I can only think about the terror of parents in that area,” he said. I mean, you have a child is struggling to breathe in the backseat of the car and you get to the hospital. There may not be space for you at the end. What kind of system is this?”
Officials at Erie Shores Healthcare say they do not admit paediatric patients. If a child is taken to the hospital through EMS or an emergency room visit, hospital staff will work to stabilize them but if they require thing beyond the most general treatment they are transferred to Windsor Regional Hospital.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance officials say they are also seeing an increase in young children at the emergency department with respiratory viruses and other illnesses.
At this time, there is currently one paediatric inpatient at CKHA and that does fluctuate daily, officials say. The hospital has three paediatric beds with the ability to flex up to five if needed.
Dr. Deonandan says short-term, targeted mask mandates in specific settings would be appropriate to curb the spread of all three viruses.
“I don't want to be too alarmist but I think now's the time for alarmism," he said. "If we cannot protect the health and welfare of our children. What are we doing? I don’t think the public fully understands the magnitude of the problem and of the emergency and the fact that we are in a worse place now than we were in 2020. And it's only going to get worse.”
- With files from CTV Windsor's Rich Garton and CTV Toronto’s Phil Tsekouras.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.