NHH continues to experience surge in acutely ill patients – Emergency Department wait time extremely long for non-urgent treatment

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Thursday, January 3, 2013 - A significant and sustained surge in acutely ill patients at the Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) has meant that the hospital is currently operating at full capacity in both the Emergency Department (ED) and the inpatient units.

The predominant ailments that patients are presenting relate to respiratory illnesses and influenza-like symptoms, likely indicating the commencement of the flu season. NHH encourages members of the public to follow proper hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of influenza in the community, and if ill themselves with the cold or flu not to visit patients in the hospital.

As a result of the surge in patient activity, patients are being advised to expect longer than normal wait times at the NHH ED, and encouraged to seek options other than the local Emergency Department for non-urgent conditions.

Alternate options to the NHH ED

For alternate options for medical care please contact your family physician’s office or go to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Your Health Care Options website - http://www.ontario.ca/healthcareoptions.

Free access to a Registered Nurse is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Telehealth Ontario service. Contact Telehealth Ontario at: 1-866-797-0000 or (TTY): 1-866-797-0007.

Updates will be shared with local media and posted to the hospital website at www.nhh.ca as required. Media inquiries may be directed to Jennifer Gillard, Director, Communications (905-377-7757 or jgillard@nhh.ca) or Helen Brenner, Vice President and CNE (905-377-7755 or hbrenner@nhh.ca).