A plan to restart scheduled surgeries and procedures in Ontario is in place.
Premier Doug Ford says the Province is telling hospitals and patients to “get ready.”
Urgent surgeries, including cancer and cardiac surgeries will resume first.
Ford says individual hospitals will have a say on the process. How soon they restart will be made at a local level, which in some cases, could still be several weeks.
“We are giving every hospital the ability to plan around their own unique situation,” said Ford. “But, I also know that many people are counting on these procedures to resume. Because, to someone waiting for a surgery, nothing is more important. This has weighed heavily on all of us.”
Over 5,000 acute care beds were made available due to the surgery cancellations when the pandemic was in its early days
But the anticipated surge wave of cases didn’t arrive and since the numbers are stabilizing provincially, a new framework is allowing them to now go ahead.
The clear criteria that has to be followed at hospitals includes:
A patient’s condition
The type of procedure a patient requires and whether there are other options
The associated risks of delaying a patient’s surgery
A stable number of Covid-19 cases in the region
A stable supply of personal protective equipment (PPE)
A stable supply of medications
An adequate capacity of inpatient and intensive care unit beds
The availability of post-acute care outside the hospital that would be required to support patients after discharge
And an adequate capacity of health human resources.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says no decision was tougher than delaying the surgeries.
But, she says it’s ensured a readiness to date in the face of a possible worst-case scenario.
Resuming scheduled surgeries for patients waiting for treatment has been top of mind. Today we released a framework based on the advice of medical experts to gradually reintroduce these surgeries once again. https://t.co/Js8hIfkynJ pic.twitter.com/Fs9Au2nChc
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) May 7, 2020
To watch Premier Ford’s full May 7th address, see below
https://www.facebook.com/FordNationDougFord/videos/573482103296622/?q=ford%20nation&epa=SEARCH_BOX