As of Tuesday, Oct.12, New Brunswickers will have less access to non-essential healthcare services.
That’s because Vitalite Health Network says their hospitals and facilities across the province will enter a “red alert phase” to facilitate the increase in COVID-19-related hospital admissions.
“We must go to red alert internally so that we can temporarily reduce or suspend non-essential services and thereby redeploy staff to maintain our emergency services and intensive care units and the care of patients with COVID-19 who are hospitalized,” says Dr. France Desrosiers, the Network’s President and CEO.
Vitalite says their epidemiological projections show an increase in hospitalizations over the coming weeks.
“We must also keep in mind that this is being done in the context of a severe staffing shortage, which adds to the seriousness and complexity of the situation,” said Desrosiers.
The following non-essential services will be “greatly reduced” or temporarily suspended:
· Ambulatory care services;
· Professional services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, etc.);
· Non-urgent medical imaging services (x-rays, scans, etc.);
· Elective surgeries.
Patients who must reschedule appointments due to these changes will be contacted by Vitalite.
