NHS lifts visiting, building entrance restrictions

Posted By RAY SPITERI Review Staff Writer

Posted 2 months ago

The Niagara Health System returned to regular practices Monday with the lifting of visiting and building entrance restrictions that were put in place during the height of the H1N1 flu pandemic.

The measures were adopted to help prevent the spread of illness and manage the flow of traffic throughout hospitals.

"We appreciate people's support and understanding with the temporary restrictions that were established to maintain the overall health and safety of the patients, staff, physicians, visitors, volunteers and the general public," said Tracy Fattore, the health system's regional director of risk management.

"We are still seeing patients with flu, but the numbers have dropped significantly since the H1N1 outbreak began in late October."

Emergency rooms and urgent care centres saw a 2.7 percent overall increase in patient volumes Sunday as compared to the daily average in September. Of the 537 patients seen in the ERs and urgent care centres, 24 per cent, or 130 patients, presented with flu symptoms.

Meanwhile, the flu assessment centre the NHS opened in St. Catharines earlier this month closed Nov. 15. Operated out of the Ontario Street site, the assessment centre treated 437 patients, helping to take some of the pressure off the ERs and urgent care centres by redirecting patients with mild flu symptoms to the flu facility.

The NHS urges adults and children with mild flu symptoms to go to a physician, walk-in clinic or urgent care centre. Mild symptoms include: fever, dry cough, sore throat, mild vomiting, diarrhea, headache, body/muscle aches. Those with severe symptoms should call 911 or go to the nearest ER.