COVID-19 A SERIOUS THREAT TO REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM; AS NUMBERS OF POSITIVE CASES CONTINUE TO RISE, STRESS ON CAPACITY IS APPARENT

To the residents of Windsor and Essex County:

The leadership teams of our three local hospital organizations, supported by our local public health unit, wish to underline to our communities that our health care system is facing extremely serious strain and your urgent help is required in ensuring we can continue to provide health care services to all who need it.

In just the last week:

• We have seen outbreaks declared at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and Windsor Regional Hospital, which risk significant reductions in available bed capacity at both institutions at a time when hospital bed use is above 100 per cent.
• Patients in Windsor are being diverted to available space at Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington and others may need to be transferred to Chatham to take advantage of every single bed available for patients.
• As hospital bed capacity deteriorates, clinical teams will have no option other than to cancel scheduled surgeries and other procedures to ensure we have bed space available for emergency and other urgent cases.
• The number of COVID-19 positive cases reported by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit are reaching a critical point, as identified by the local Medical Officer of Health.
• A rising number of workplaces and schools are facing outbreaks.
• Demand for COVID-19 testing continues to rise as case counts climb. Simply put, the scenario that our Windsor-Essex region residents have seen on TV taking place in other jurisdictions around the world, where hospital resources are stretched beyond capacity, is showing signs of occurring in our area of the province.

Our employees and professional staff in many cases are reaching the point of exhaustion. Our community partners – paramedics, staff at long-term care and retirement home facilities, home care providers and mental health service staff – are also feeling the strain.

Make no mistake – COVID-19 is real. Regardless of the myths spread about this virus online and in media reports, one thing is certain: the higher the number of COVID-19 positive cases, the higher the likelihood of more and more cases requiring emergency and critical care. We also know much more about the virus often because of the impact this virus has on very common conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and those in poor cardiac health, respiratory conditions and anyone with immuno-compromised health.

We know many of you “are tired” of COVID-19 and the constant messaging – to wear a mask, to keep physically distant from those outside of your immediate family and to limit excursions outside of the house to work, school and important needs such as groceries. We know many are tired of cancelled events, arts and recreation programs, and as we head towards the holidays and the new year, celebrations with extended family and friends.

Our health care teams are tired too.

We are asking that you help them, and our communities, by understanding the severity of the situation and, no matter how many times you’ve heard it, and might be tired of hearing it, that you do your part to keep COVID-19 transmission at bay.

The lives of many individuals in our community are depending on your help.

It’s the season to give – so let’s please give the gift of understanding, compassion and kindness for our hospital workers and our communities at large.

Remember, #TogetherWeStayStrong.

Sincerely,

For Erie Shores Healthcare:

• Kristin Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer 
• Dr. Ross Moncur, Chief of Professional Staff 
• Jeff Lewis, Board Chair

For Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare:

• Janice Kaffer, President and CEO
• Dr. Andrea Steen, Chief of Staff 
• Brian Payne, Board Chair

For Windsor Regional Hospital:

• David Musyj, President and CEO
• Dr. Wassim Saad, Chief of Staff 
• Anthony Paniccia,  Board Chair