An increase in patients has forced the West Parry Sound Health Centre into its code gridlock policy.
The policy comes into play whenever patient volumes exceed the centre’s normal capacity to provide care.
Jim Hanna, WPSHC’s Communications Officer says the Code Gridlock, declared Thursday around 5 PM, is not a direct result of the current high pandemic activity in our communities, but COVID-19 is adding to the health centre’s extreme system pressures.
Hanna says over a two-day period, the emergency department was caring for as many as 11 patients requiring admission, with no inpatient beds available, adding in that period the health centre has been above 110 per cent of capacity.
In response to Code Gridlock at WPSHC:
- A small number of inpatients are currently receiving care in the health centre’s Day Surgery recovery area.
- Some non-urgent surgeries and other procedures are being cancelled and will be rescheduled.
- Significant attention is being given to all patients who can be safely discharged.
- A number of staff redeployments are being made across numerous departments.
Donald Sanderson, WPSHC’s CEO says the delivery of safe, sustainable care continues to be the centre’s number one priority and every possible effort is being made to move the health centre out of gridlock.
“We fully recognize that many patients and families are experiencing unanticipated and unwelcome impacts as a result of our response. Our care teams are especially thankful to everyone who is responding with understanding and cooperation during this exceptional time,” Sanderson says.
Hanna says Code gridlock triggers a graduated response aimed at dealing with an overwhelming volume of admitted patients and insufficient inpatient bed capacity and resources to maintain patient care and community access to emergency services.