By Cecilia Nasmith

Effective Monday, Northumberland Hills Hospital is postponing selected non-urgent procedures, including elective surgeries, non-urgent diagnostic-imaging procedures and non-urgent ambulatory-care activities in support of Ontario's ramp-down of elective surgeries and non-emergent and non-acute-care activities.

“The goal is to work together as a province to do all in our power to preserve our system's over-all critical-care and human-resource capacity in the face of rising COVID-19 case counts and community transmission,” NHH President and Chief Executive Officer Linda Davis said in the announcement.

The Emergency Department will continue to operate as usual, including the COVID-19 Assessment Centre, and all urgent care will continue to be provided. There will be no impact to patients currently admitted to hospital.

Staff are now in the process of placing calls to elective and non-urgent patients and families affected by the ramp-down. These calls will continue in the coming days. If you do not receive a call, please assume your procedure or service will continue as planned.

This step is being taken by NHH along with all hospital across the province on directions received from the provincial government.

“Thank you, as always, for your continued patience as we move forward together in these challenging times,” Davis said, adding her thanks to the dedicated staff, physicians and midwives who continue to do their utmost to provide exceptional patient care.

A return to regular services will be planned as soon as safely possible. Details will be announced as the situation unfolds. Meanwhile, Davis said, continued vigilance with health measures is critical.

“Please support our team in supporting you and your family by obeying the province's emergency measures – maintaining physical distance from those outside your own household, wearing a mask when that is not possible, washing your hand frequently and receiving your vaccine when it is your turn to do so.”

For the latest information on COVID-19, including links to related resources, visit https://nhh.ca/covid-19.