At last week's Northumberland Hills Hospital board meeting, President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Walsh said an announcement would soon be forthcoming on a new service to help keep hospital resources from being overwhelmed with residents suffering from cough, cold and possible COVID-19 symptoms.
On Monday, NHH announced the new Cough, Cold and COVID Assessment Centre – open at least until March 30 – in the portable trailer immediately outside the hospital's Emergency Department that has previously served as a COVID-19 Assessment Centre.
The centre offers a fast and effective assessment and treatment option for anyone of any age experiencing worsening cough, cold, earaches, sore throats, congestion and fever – symptoms typically associated with respiratory illnesses like RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), influenza and COVID-19.
These services are available on an appointment-only basis, offering timely help to local families by offering:
phone-based consultation (often avoiding the need for in-person visits) for those with questions or concerns regarding moderate or worsening cough, cold or COVID-19 symptoms
booked appointments with a clinician, often on the same day
testing (as eligible), including COVID-19 PCR testing, with quick turn-around on results
prescriptions for treatment as applicable
You can call 905-377-7783 or 1-833-678-2435 to speak to a member of the NHH Cough, Cold and COVID Assessment team. Appointments must be pre-booked, as walk-ins cannot be permitted due to space limitations.
In all urgent situations (such as chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, altered state of consciousness and confusion), call 911 or go directly to the nearest Emergency Department.
“With respiratory viruses circulating so widely, NHH's expanded Cough, Cold and COVID Assessment Centre aims to offer an easy-to-access alternate care option for residents,” Walsh said in the announcement.
“The aim is that, by offering focused care for respiratory illness to both adults and children in the Assessment Centre, we can offer an alternate option to local families, while saving the Emergency Department for emergencies. “We are grateful for every member of our team who has stepped up to support this centre since the beginning of the pandemic, including the dedicated local primary-care providers who continue to bring their expertise to the centre to efficiently and effectively meet local need.”
