This is a joint message from Ottawa\u2019s medical Chiefs of Staff<\/p>\n
OTTAWA \u2013 January 22, 2021<\/strong> \u2013 As medical Chiefs of Staff for Ottawa\u2019s hospitals, we are asking everyone to adhere to provincial public health restrictions and stay home, except for essential reasons \u2014 reasons that include seeking medical care, essential work, groceries and exercise. We want our teams to continue delivering in-person care, whether that\u2019s surgeries, diagnostic tests or specialist appointments.<\/p>\n We can do this, Ottawa. We’ve done it before\u00a0– like\u00a0after Thanksgiving, when\u00a0we\u00a0brought case numbers back into the double digits – and we are beginning to make progress again.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to do because the impact of COVID-19 on health-care services goes far beyond those who contract the virus. It affects everyone who needs hospital services.<\/p>\n Since last spring\u2019s shutdown, we have learned a lot about the virus and how to keep everyone safe while providing care that must occur in person. So this time around, we are proceeding with in-person care, such as surgeries, diagnostic procedures and various specialty care appointments. We are also continuing with virtual care first, whenever possible.<\/p>\n Our dedicated staff and medical staff are working full-steam-ahead to make up for the many cancellations of in-person care that happened in the spring and summer as we adjusted to providing care in the midst of COVID-19. Despite the progress made, over 17,000 patients in our region are waiting for surgery.<\/p>\n However, our ability to make up this ground is in your control. We must all do everything we can to keep down the level of COVID-19 in the community. Failure to do so will lead to staffing and bed shortages, which will force us to cancel surgeries, diagnostics and other in-person care appointments, once again. These appointments could be yours, your parents\u2019 or your own child\u2019s. We don\u2019t want that.<\/p>\n If COVID-19 cases rise too high, there is a risk that our ICUs will begin to reach capacity. This puts in jeopardy all the post-surgical care they provide. No room in our ICUs means scheduled surgeries must be delayed.<\/p>\n To help:<\/p>\n In addition, remember that our hospitals are safe. Don\u2019t wait to seek medical attention. Some people are waiting too long to come to hospital, arriving with conditions that are more severe than is usually the case. Please seek medical attention if you think you need it.<\/p>\n We know this a stressful time for everyone. But the sooner we get through this pandemic, the sooner the health of our community can recover from this difficult time, whether that is our physical, mental or economic health.<\/p>\n We must flatten this curve. We\u2019ve done it before; we can do it again.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s all pull together and stay home, stay safe, save lives.<\/p>\n Paddy Moore, pmoore@cheo.on.ca <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Martin Sauv\u00e9, martinsauve@montfort.on.ca <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Kelly Spence, kspence@qch.on.ca<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Michaela Schreiter, mschreiter@toh.ca <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Karen Monaghan, karen.monaghan@theroyal.ca <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n
Media contacts<\/h2>\n
CHEO<\/h3>\n
Montfort<\/h3>\n
Queensway Carleton Hospital<\/h3>\n
The Ottawa Hospital<\/h3>\n
The Royal<\/h3>\n
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute<\/h3>\n