Non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries, diagnostic imaging (DI), procedures and ambulatory clinical activity has been halted at LWDH until further notice.
The Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) shared in a press release on January 7, 2022, that there will interruptions to hospital services following a directive issued by the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health on January 5, 2022.
In the directive, it was detailed that all hospitals in Ontario are to cease all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries, DI procedures, and ambulatory clinical activity until further notice.
Emergent or urgent surgeries, DI procedures and ambulatory clinical activity are not impacted by this directive and may continue.
The announcement comes as the provincial and regional COVID-19 case numbers increase, coupled with the staffing shortages that hospitals, including LWDH, continue to face.
These steps are being taken in order to preserve system capacity to deal effectively with COVID-19 and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, as well as other urgent health needs in our communities.
If you had an upcoming procedure or surgery scheduled at LWDH which needs to be rescheduled, you will be contacted by hospital staff with further information.