**TIMMINS AND DISTRICT HOSPITAL NEWS RELEASE**

Effective immediately and following Ministry of Health guidelines, Timmins and District Hospital is implementing further visitor restrictions as follows:

 

For patients in the Hospital, NO visitation except for one person for:

  • A dying patient
  • An ill child or youth
  • A person giving birth during labour and up to 4 hours post-delivery

For patients coming to Emergency, one support person may accompany the patient to the waiting room. Once the patient is inside in the waiting room, the support person will be asked to wait outside the building. The support person will be provided regular updates on the progress of the patient’s treatment in the Emergency department. A Hospital staff member will be assigned to help the patient through the various treatment areas that the patient may have to visit during their emergency visit treatment. Once the patient’s treatment is complete, the support person will be contacted to assist the patient out of the Hospital building to their desired destination.

 

We understand how difficult these new restrictions and our current restrictions will be for the families and friends of patients in the Hospital.

 

We are putting more effort in ensuring communication lines are maintained between patients and their families and friends. The next-of-kin person for all patients will be contacted to discuss how the Hospital could assist with getting connected with the patient.

 

The Hospital is moving in a direction where, as Provincial and community COVID-19 cases continue to increase, only Emergency, Urgent and InPatient care services will be available. Effective 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 all scheduled surgeries, procedures and most diagnostic imaging will be cancelled. Patients will be contacted as soon as possible regarding appointment cancellations.

 

Filed under: Local News