Woodstock Hospital Suspends General Visiting

Wednesday, 5 January 2022 10:57

The only visitors allowed will be those deemed necessary for safety, enabling care, or on compassionate grounds and they will need to show proof of vaccination.

WOODSTOCK - Woodstock Hospital is taking additional steps to protect staff and patients from the surging Omicron variant.

Starting today, general visiting to the hospital has been suspended. The only visitors allowed will be those deemed necessary for safety, enabling care, or on compassionate grounds. Those visitors who qualify will need to provide proof of vaccination.

Woodstock Hospital President and CEO Perry Lang explains why these measures are necessary.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, nearly two years ago, the staff and physicians at Woodstock Hospital have worked tirelessly to provide excellent patient care during uncertain times. Our top priority has always been the safety of our patients, staff, and physicians. In the face of this highly transmissible Omicron variant, we have a responsibility now more than ever to provide the safest possible environment here at Woodstock Hospital.”

VP of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer Cindy Smart says they have had an increase of admissions to medicine units an the Critical Care Unit of COVID-19 positive patients.

“As well as suspending general visiting, in alignment with the announcement by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health to reinstate Directive #2, the hospital will be reducing its surgical services program in order to preserve critical care and inpatients bed capacity to aid in addressing the upcoming surge of potential COVID-19 patients. Our physicians are working diligently to prioritize cases and determine which surgeries can safely be postponed. Surgeons’ offices will be in contact with those individuals who will be impacted by this reduction.”

The Woodstock Hospital appreciates the support of the community during this difficult time.