CHEO postponing some surgeries, redeploying staff to deal with 'major surge' of patients

CHEO is cancelling some non-urgent surgeries, procedures and clinic appointments and redeploying clinicians to free up staff as it deals with a "major surge" in patients this fall.

The children's hospital says it's "well beyond its capacity and wait times are, unfortunately, historically long" as respiratory illness season gets underway in Ottawa.

"Like most pediatric hospitals across the country, CHEO is experiencing an unprecedented major surge. There is a significant increase in the number of young patients with acute viral respiratory infections including RSV, COVID and the seasonal flu," CHEO said in a media release.

CHEO's pediatric intensive care unit is operating at 186 per cent capacity, while the hospital is operating at 113 per cent occupancy. On Wednesday, CHEO had 246 visits to the emergency department. As of 1 p.m. on Thursday, 14 children were waiting in the ER for a bed on the floor.

CHEO's interim Pediatric Chief says the hospital has been over-capacity in its ICU for several days.

"Just to put it in perspective, yesterday, all of our children, so at 160 per cent capacity, all of our children were under the age of five. And the vast majority of them are actually under the age of two," Dr. Mona Jabbour said.

CHEO says to address the "emergency situation", it is taking a series of measures to ensure that young people get the "emergency, critical and acute care they need."

The actions include:

• Postponing some non-urgent surgeries and procedures to free up staff
• Postponing some clinic appointments to free up staff
• Redeploying clinicians with critical care skills who may be working in other parts of CHEO to help in the CHEO ICU
• Reassigning staff to support emergency, acute and critical care needs
• Scheduling staff from across CHEO who have put up their hand to support care teams in non-clinical ways
• Expanding staffing and clinic hours at the Kids Come First and East Ottawa Kids Clinic
• "We are quickly hiring more staff and getting them on the floors," CHEO said.

CHEO is also starting its enhanced peak viral season measures on Thursday, which includes only allowing one patient/caregiver at the bedside of a child.

"We know that lengthy waits delays and postponed surgeries are distressing for our young patients and families," CHEO said. "It’s a gut-punch to have to take these actions, but we believe that together we will get through this. Rest assured, any kids requiring urgent care will always been seen immediately."

CHEO says it currently expects to be able to continue with 70 per cent of the non-urgent, scheduled surgeries and procedures. All urgent, emergency surgeries will continue as scheduled.

Any families who are impacted by the changes to surgeries, procedures and clinics will be contacted by CHEO.

CHEO's vice president of Clinical Services says the region was lacking primary care capacity before the pandemic.

"We’re looking at the surgeries and making sure that the most urgent go ahead," Tammy DeGiovanni said Thursday.

"But really recognizing that anytime we're doing triaging, even though we say that we're doing this all the time, this is a whole other level."

Ottawa's medical officer of health warned Wednesday morning that this "respiratory season will be challenging," and urged all residents to get their COVID-19 booster and their flu vaccine.

"The best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and the health care system is to stay up to date on all your vaccinations," Dr. Vera Etches said.

"This winter will be hard on our community as several respiratory viruses will be circulating simultaneously creating stressors on our community and our health care system."

During an interview on CTV News at Six, Dr. Etches said CHEO does have a plan to meet the "challenge" and care for children as Ottawa sees a rise in respiratory viruses like RSV and COVID.

"What families need to know about the respiratory syncytial virus is that it is leading to more illness in the community than we usually see, probably especially for the younger ones who haven't encountered this virus before because we were being careful with respiratory diseases over the last couple of years," Etches said.

"Most children will make it through this illness; it is a viral illness – fever, cough, running nose, those kind of things."

Ottawa's medical officer of health says if your child is sick, reach out to your family health care provider or contact Health Connect Ontario at 8-1-1.

"It really is important to reserve the hospital for those who have really worrisome symptoms; like difficulty breathing, not able to stay hydrated or keep fluids down, or who are just having difficulty staying alert – those are times the hospital will be there for you," Etches said.

NO PLANS FOR A MASK MANDATE

Ottawa Public Health is recommending people wear a mask in indoor and crowded spaces, but Etches says there are no plans to reinstate mask mandates.

"No contemplation of a mask mandate," Etches said Wednesday evening. "What I do want to encourage people is to use that tool – wear your mask indoors because that is something that can make a difference. It's a choice; people have different levels of risk for severe illness at this time. We know that it is effective."