Elective Surgeries Postponed at SMH
New Tecumseth, ON – April 9, 2021] As per the direction from Ontario Health, Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) will be ramping down pre-scheduled surgeries to accommodate pandemic-related pressures the hospital and health care system are now facing and will continue to face in the coming weeks.
Effective Monday, April 12 all pre-scheduled, non-urgent surgeries will be postponed to create capacity for acute care patients as a result of the impending wave 3 pressures. SMH will continue to provide all emergency services, including emergency surgeries, fully supporting patients with urgent health care needs.
“This continues to be a very challenging time and there are many members of our community who are waiting for surgeries. To adequately prepare for Wave 3, we have to ensure we have the capacity to manage what we are anticipating in the coming weeks, which is a potential surge of patients in our inpatient units,” says Carrie Jeffreys, VP of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive, SMH.
“We will continue to provide surgeries to those who need it the most, and will look to bring back all surgical services as soon as we are able to do so safely,” says Jody Levac, President and CEO, SMH.
All patients with pre-booked surgeries will be contacted by the hospital to be placed on a waiting list.
