SickKids Hospital preparing ICU beds for adult COVID-19 patients
Posted April 7, 2021 6:38 am.
Last Updated April 7, 2021 8:34 am.
With more than 500 COVID-19 patients now in the province’s ICU’s, SickKids Hospital is stepping in to help the strained adult health-care system.
The hospital says it’s preparing to open eight ICU beds as needed for adults 40 and younger with COVID-19.
The patients will be transferred from GTA hospitals that have surpassed their capacity, after all potential transfers to neighbouring regions have been attempted.
RELATED: Ontario hospitals calling for more help in COVID-19 fight, warning ICU space will be gone in weeks
The president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association calls the move a “watershed” moment.
Anthony Dale says it “shows selfless leadership” and “underscores the gravity of the historic challenge our province now faces.”
SickKids says it has the clinical expertise and physical capacity to care for adult patients, while minimizing disruption to the safe care of pediatric patients.
The recent increase of COVID-related ICU admissions has strained the adult health-care system, while ICU admissions at SickKids have remained low. As a result, we are preparing to open an eight-bed ICU for previously healthy adults with COVID-19, if needed https://t.co/VVXn5gDatn
— The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) (@SickKidsNews) April 6, 2021
