Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) is making some changes to help keep patients, families, and WDMH staff safe. The changes are in line with the recent Ontario government directives.
“We want to keep our patients safe and keep Omicron out of WDMH as much as possible,” explains CEO Cholly Boland. “We also want to protect our staff so they can continue to care for our communities. We are all in this together.”
Inpatient visiting has been further reduced and is now allowed for long-stay patients, maternity patients, specific Emergency Department patients, and compassionate situations such as palliative care. For full details, visit www.wdmh.on.ca/visitors.
WDMH will be reducing elective services according to the government’s recent directive. Any patients affected by this will be contacted by the hospital.
Changes have been made to protect staff as well. Those who can work remotely are doing so and volunteers are being asked to stay home. We are ensuring staff has the proper personal protective equipment including N95 masks and access to rapid testing. We have also implemented practices to help ensure physical distancing whenever possible such as when on lunch breaks. “99% of our staff and physicians have received all three COVID shots which reduces the risk of contracting and transmitting the virus,” adds Cholly Boland.
Everyone is asked to continue to follow public health guidelines by wearing masks, practicing good hand hygiene, limiting contacts, and most important, getting vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.
“We are taking considerable precautions throughout WDMH,” sums up Cholly Boland. “One of our most important messages to the community is for prospective patients to come to the hospital if they need hospital care – and not to stay away for fear of COVID. We are here for you.”
For the latest updates, please visit www.wdmh.on.ca.
