THUNDER BAY - The province is providing hospitals with tools needed to begin scheduled surgeries again and it will rely upon capacity to still respond to possible surges in COVID-19 cases and it is still several weeks away.
The provincial government released its framework on Thursday for hospitals to begin surgeries that were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The framework includes a set of criteria that hospitals need to meet before beginning surgeries, which include having a stable number of COVID-19 cases, a stable supply of personal protective equipment and medications, adequate capacity of inpatient and intensive care beds, and adequate capacity of health human resources like nurses and doctors.
“No decision was tougher than delaying surgeries, especially cardiac and cancer surgeries,” said Minister of Health Christine Elliott during the daily media briefing on Thursday. “I know that has been very concerning to many people.”
“These criteria ensure hospitals take a measured and cautious approach to provide life saving surgeries while still being able to respond to COVID outbreaks or surges.”
The framework also outlines the criteria for what types of surgeries should be prioritized and is based on the patient’s condition, the type of procedure, the risks associated with delaying surgery, and the resources required such as PPE, medications, and intensive care unit beds.
“It will depend on what the hospital is able to do. Some of them do have specialties,” Elliott said. “We want to make sure we can proceed on all fronts in a measured and equitable way based on the condition of the patient of course and the degree of need. But it is up to each hospital in what way they proceed.”
When asked why the province did not release it’s framework earlier to allow hospitals time to prepare, Elliott said they were not ready, but with the number of new cases of COVID-19 declining in Ontario, she said they can now consider opening up hospitals for these procedures.
“If it’s an urgent situation for a cancer surgery for example, it would have already taken place,” Elliott said. “We have already had procedures taking place in our hospitals. But we know that there are tens of thousands of other surgeries that have been postponed and we want to move quickly as possible but it will depend on the assessment of regional hospitals.”
As for when surgeries will actually begin again, Elliott did not provide a specific timeline, but said it will not be right away.
“I would say it’s going to be several weeks before we get to that and start actually performing those surgeries,” she said. “I think it’s important that process has started.”
