KAWARTHA LAKES-Local hospitals are experiencing extensive off-load delays and officials are currently looking at ways to deal with the issue.
Off-load delays happen when incoming patients cannot be transferred quickly from paramedics or police to staff in a hospital emergency department. This is typically due to emergency department congestion.
Randy Mellow, Paramedic Chief Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough confirmed significant delays on Wednesday but said there were still ambulances available.
“There is currently a high volume of calls however CKL does have units available.” Mellow told Kawartha 411 News. “Offload delays are extensive in all area hospitals (PTBO, Lindsay, Cobourg) affecting all area services.”
Ross Memorial Hospital says they are operating over 100% capacity.
“We can confirm that there was an offload delay earlier today(Wednesday) due to a high number of patients requiring admission and hospital capacity being over 100 per cent. The delay has since been cleared.” Ryan Young, Communications Ross Memorial Hospital said.
RMH currently has 10 patients admitted with COVID-19 but none with COVID as the primary cause of admission.
PRHC has six inpatients with COVID-19 but doesn’t say whether COVID is the primary cause of admission.
It is unclear what is causing people to go to the hospital.
Young says the hospital is currently working on a joint press release with the City’s paramedics to make an announcement pertaining to off-load delays.
“We are planning to release it next week during paramedic services week.”
