In a deputation to city council this past Monday, members were updated on capacity issues at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital.
President and CEO Karen Davies stressed that ahead of the pandemic, hospital staff and administration were already struggling.
She adds it was not abnormal for the hospital to be at 100 per cent occupancy or beyond.
Davies tells myFM with the announcement of the EV gigaplant coming to the city – and with it significant population growth – that will only exacerbate matters.
Davies advises they have applied for provincial funding to undertake a capital development plan to address future growth.
During the pandemic, 22 beds were added at the hospital and they remain open and in operation.
Davies notes when needed, up to eight more beds can be added. It illustrates how the hospital continually functions at or over capacity.
Davies tells myFM they are working with the Ministry of Health to determine a future direction
The hospital expanded in 2018, however the lion’s share of the work takes place in the original structure which opened more than 70 years ago.
The present site is landlocked, limiting the options available to administration, points out Davies.
She says talks with the province are ongoing.
Davies advises the Emergency Department volumes are going to peak at around 57,000 visits this year, compared to about 58,000 visits expected this year at University Hospital in London.
