Niagara Health President Lynn Guerriero co-signed a letter today requesting that the Ontario Government consider every possible policy measure to avoid a crisis, assure safe access to care, and protect patients, staff and physicians.
The letter is signed by the President's and CEO's of Brant Community Healthcare System, Joseph Brant Hospital, Haldimand War Memorial Hospital, Norfolk General Hospital and
West Haldimand General Hospital, as well as Hotel Dieu Shaver Rehabiliation Centre.
The letter calls for further decisive action by the Ford Government regarding lockdown measures and warns that hospital workforces are not designed to managed the rising infections rates and rapidly increasing hospitalizations.
Hospitals are still trying to clear procedural backlogs from the past several months.
The expected surge of infections post-holiday, combined with the known rise in seasonal illness that normally comes this time of year is causing grave concern.
The letter comes after the Ontario Hospital Association called for stricter lockdown measures in regions hard-hit by COVID-19.