CHEO apologizes after errant sign wrongly says emergency room overloaded
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario is apologizing after a sign outside the hospital incorrectly said the emergency room was overloaded and directed patients elsewhere.
The sign read “CHEO Emergency is overloaded. Please proceed to The Ottawa Hospital,” and listed a phone number.
However, the sign was from a mock disaster response exercise several years ago and should not have been displayed, a CHEO spokesman said Thursday. The hospital’s emergency department remains open.
“Last night, there was construction being done in one of our parking lots (lot B). A sign that had been placed at the entrance of the lot to advise of where patients should park given the parking lot closure appears to have blown away overnight revealing an old sign that it had been placed on top of,” CHEO spokesman Paddy Moore said in a statement.
That old sign was from the mock disaster exercise which was done several years ago, he said.
“It should have been destroyed and was never intended to be displayed outside of the exercise and without someone on hand to explain to, and guide, families coming to our emergency department for care,” he said.
The incorrect sign was removed at 6:08 a.m. when staff became aware of what had happened, Moore said.
“We apologize for, and regret, any confusion this unfortunate situation caused,” he said. “We are working to make it right with any affected families and our counterparts at the Ottawa Hospital.”
Moore said CHEO is aware of one family that went next door to the Ottawa Hospital General campus for care, and the hospital apologizes for that confusion.
It’s unknown what caused the correct sign to be blown away. Moore said a medivac helicopter took off at 3:12 a.m.; it’s unclear whether that or the wind caused the parking sign to dislodge.
The brief scare comes as some eastern Ontario hospitals have been forced to close or reduce the hours of their emergency departments due to staffing shortages.
The ER at the Perth Hospital has been closed since July 2 amid a COVID-19 outbreak and staffing shortages.
CHEO’s May and June were the busiest on record for its emergency department. However, CHEO remains open for children and youth that need urgent or critical care.
“We sincerely regret any confusion caused and want to assure families that we will always do everything we can to get your kids the care they need,” Moore said.
- with files from Jeremie Charron, CTV News Ottawa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.