LHSC, St. Joe's to perform only urgent and essential procedures

The London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care are both further reducingtheirprocedures, starting today.

At LHSC, elective surgeries and procedures were cancelled two weeks ago and as of today, only urgent and emergency procedures, including surgeries, will be performed at Victoria and University hospitals.

"Urgent and emergency procedures are currently defined as those that must be completed within the next seven days," hospital officials say.

There will continue to be special consideration for cancer care, renal care and mental health care, LHSC said.

At St. Joe's, all elective and semi-urgent surgical cases are postponed. Non-urgent visits will be deferred and others will be dealt with over the phone or by video.

Services and programs at Parkwood Institute Main Building, Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care Building, and Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care are also are in the process of ramping downand options for virtual care delivery are being explored.

Uncertainty for patients, loved ones

Patients are asked not to come to St. Joe's for routine blood work, urine testing or stool testing.

Current nursing student clinical placements and professional practicumsacross St. Joseph's sites are cancelled.

Essential services such as trauma, stroke, urgent cardiac care, transplants and the birthing centre will continue to operate at LHSC.

"We recognize that the changes in our service delivery cause uncertainty for our patients and their loved ones," hospital officials say.

"Any patient whose appointment or procedure is impacted by these further reductions, will receive direct communication from their physician to discuss their ongoing care plan."

Reduced visiting hours at St. Joe's

• Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care:Visitors restricted to essential visitors only, between 10 am and 8 pm
• Parkwood Institute Main Building:Visitors restricted to essential visitors only.
• Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care Building:Visitors restricted to essential visitors only, between 8 am and 8 pm.
• Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care:Visitors restricted to essential visitors only, between 9 am and 9 pm.
• St. Joseph's Hospital:Visitors restricted to essential visitors only.

Essential visitors are those who have a patient/resident who is very ill or requiring end-of-life care. For mental health patients, essential visitors include someone who is considered necessary for the care and comfort of the patient or a substitute decision maker for treatment decisions. Patients are limited to one essential visitor at a time.For patients who have outpatient clinic appointments that have not been rescheduled, one family member/care giver is permitted to attend with the patient.