Media Release: St. Joseph’s gradually reintroduces services

LONDON, Ontario – St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) is gradually reintroducing services that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic response. Planning is being done in partnership with health service providers across the region and is based on the framework A Measured Approach Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic from Ontario Health. 

“The safety and wellbeing of our patients, residents and health care workers is always at the forefront of our planning, which includes the gradual reintroduction of services,” says Roy Butler, St. Joseph’s Vice President of Patient Care and Risk Management. “It’s a delicate balance to ensure we can deliver safe, quality care and be ready to respond to a potential surge in COVID-19 cases.” 

As St. Joseph’s gradually reintroduces services, it’s important that patients understand what to expect when they come for care. Patients will be notified directly when their procedure or appointment will be rescheduled.  

Patients also need to be aware that our buildings are safe to enter, and it is ok to come in when health care is needed. Stringent safety practices are in place to protect the well-being of patients. COVID-19 screening is done at entrances, all patients and essential visitors are provided with masks to wear while in our buildings, physical distancing is being maintained in our clinics and throughout our facilities, and specialized cleaning is done before and after each patient visit. 

We continue to optimize the use of virtual care and visitor restrictions to decrease the number of people in our buildings at any one time.  

“As we are still in a pandemic, it will be some time before St. Joseph’s can fully open all services,” says Dr. Brian Rotenberg, Chair of St. Joseph’s Medical Advisory Committee. “We recognize this may cause anxiety for patients who are awaiting care. Our physicians and teams are closely monitoring our patients and using Ministry of Health guidelines to prioritize those most in need of in-person care or procedures. Many patients will, unfortunately, continue to experience delays in receiving a face-to-face appointment. However, programs and services will continue to serve patients virtually wherever possible and appropriate. If patients feel they have need of urgent care, however, they should contact their physician or come to our Urgent Care Center. It is safe to come to our hospital at this time.”   

We appreciate the understanding of our community as we take the steps necessary to allow a safe and gradual approach to resuming scheduled services. 

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For more information:

Kelsi Break
Communication Consultant
Office: 519.646.6100 ext. 64792
Cell: 519 200-1397, pager 16529
@email

About St. Joseph’s Health Care London

Renowned for compassionate care, St. Joseph’s Health Care London is a leading academic health care centre in Canada dedicated to helping people live to their fullest by minimizing the effects of injury, disease and disability through excellence in care, teaching and research. Through partnership with Lawson Health Research Institute and our collaborative engagement with other health care and academic partners, St. Joseph’s has become an international leader in the areas of: chronic disease management; medical imaging; specialized mental health care; rehabilitation and specialized geriatrics; and surgery.  St. Joseph’s operates through a wide range of hospital, clinic and long-term and community based settings, including: St. Joseph’s Hospital; Parkwood Institute; Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care; and the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care.  For more information, visit sjhc.london.on.ca