WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER - West Parry Sound Health Centre is at 118 percent occupancy. The team is working to provide all necessary care while the demand for services is well above the health centre’s normal capacity. 

Please plan thoughtfully and consider ways to avoid an unnecessary visit to the WPSHC Emergency Department: avoid risk, maintain contact with your primary care provider, keep medication prescriptions current. Be sure to always call 911 or safely travel to the Emergency Department whenever urgent or emergency care is needed.

One significant impact is that the WPSHC Emergency Department is caring for admitted patients and this increases wait times for less urgent care. Please be patient with our team and anticipate longer than usual wait times should you seek care at our Emergency Department.

WPSHC is carefully monitoring the situation and working towards improving capacity.

The health centre also advises that COVID-19 is reappearing in our communities. Please consider appropriate precautions and be sure to get an updated vaccination. Immunization clinics are being planned and operated by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.

WPSHC reminds everyone that summer is always our busiest time, especially within our Emergency Department (ED).  ED volumes are often doubled at this time of year.   As always urgent care needs are prioritized.  We request that patients accessing non-urgent care through our ED anticipate longer wait times and understand that our team is working as quickly and diligently as possible, often under difficult circumstances.  While WPSHC understands that long waits can be very frustrating, we urge those seeking care to remember that having immediate care with an Emergency Department is never a desirable position.

Never delay in calling 911 or safely traveling to our Emergency Department when you have an urgent need for care.

WPSHC reminds everyone to prioritize the safety of themselves and their families as they enjoy all summer activities.   Plan ahead to avoid unnecessary trips to the ED.  Use safety equipment when suitable, fill your medical prescriptions in advance, contact your primary care provider when suitable for a safe response to mild illness or injury.

If you require non-emergency care, consider the following options:

• Contact the office of your primary care provider. Many physicians and primary care offices are serving patient needs over the telephone and by providing virtual visits. Consider if this option is available from your primary care provider.
• Consider if utilizing Health Connect Ontario (formerly Telehealth Ontario) is appropriate. By calling 811 (TTY: 1866-797-007) or chatting online (https://health811.ontario.ca/static/guest/chat-online) you can connect with a registered nurse 24/7 for access to safe, high-quality care and health advice.  
• The six sites of the WPSHC Rural Nurse Practitioner Led-Clinic continue to provide primary care to people who do not have another provider. Additionally, the sites maintain a limited number same-day or next-day appointments that can be accessed by anybody for non-urgent care, whether you have a provider or not. Appointments may be booked in person or virtually (telephone or OTN), based on the provider’s discretion. To ensure the safety of staff and patients, it is imperative that you call ahead to book an appointment.

Please remember to never delay in calling 911 or safely traveling to our Emergency Department when you have an urgent need for care.