SickKids Hospital in Toronto has cut its surgical activities to preserve its critical care capacity effective Monday. .“This decision was not taken lightly,” said SickKids President and CEO Ronald Cohn in a press release. .“The reduction in surgical activity will allow us to support areas of the hospital that need help managing increasing patient volumes and acuity, including the critical care units, paediatric medicine and the Emergency Department.”.The release said this reduction will enable SickKids to prioritize urgent, emergency, and time-sensitive surgeries. It said administrative teams will be contacting families whose scheduled procedures will be affected. .SickKids’s ICU has been at 127% capacity for several days, and it has moved a large number of patients with higher responsiveness outside of it. More than half of the patients in the ICU are on a ventilator. .While the hospital is working hard and collaborating with community partners, the release said it appears they have reached their capacity. .“I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone at SickKids who is going above and beyond, doing the best they can, for patients and families, and for each other, during this difficult time,” said Cohn. .SickKids said in August children who are discharged from the hospital and require liquid acetaminophen will need a prescription because of supply shortages. .READ MORE: Toronto parents will need prescription for children’s liquid medication.“Pharmacies across Canada are dealing with supply shortages of liquid forms of common fever and pain medicines, acetaminophen and ibuprofen,” it said. .“The following information will help manage the situation until supplies return to normal levels.”
