This story has been amended since posting.
Elective surgeries are being cancelled at Lions Gate Hospital and only patients who need immediate medical intervention are being treated at the hospital as the province aims to empty acute care hospital beds in preparation for a potential coronavirus outbreak.
At the same time, Lions Gate is also gearing up to open a dedicated COVID-19 unit to provide hospital care for those with the virus, according to provincial health officials.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, chief medical health officer for B.C., and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the sweeping measures Monday, as the province prepares B.C.’s health care system for a possible coronavirus onslaught.
No details have been given on the new coronavirus care unit at Lions Gate, although preparations visible this week included tents set up outside the hospital entrance and what appear to be new assessment areas set up inside the gym/multipurpose area inside the hospital.
There was no information available immediately about the number of patients with COVID-19 who may already have been admitted for treatment at Lions Gate.
Meanwhile, the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation announced it has committed $200,000 to allow for the immediate purchase of five ventilators and other respiratory care equipment for the hospital.
“We anticipate other urgent requests and we want to be ready to respond,” wrote foundation chair Judy Savage in a statement. Savage said one anonymous donor has made a “significant donation” toward the cost of a ventilator and hopes it spurs others to make similar donations.
Under Henry’s order, only patients who need immediate intervention will be accepted at Lions Gate, according to the health ministry. All others will be diverted to other Lower Mainland hospitals.
But even at those hospitals, only urgent or emergency surgeries – such as cancer surgeries or trauma surgery for car crash victims – will be done in operating rooms. All other elective surgeries are being cancelled over the next three to five days, “which will result in thousands of cancellations, in order to free up hospital beds,” said Dix.
He added those measures will allow for training and reassignment of essential health care staff on critical care related to COVID-19 and to ensure sufficient medical supplies “for patients and staff who need them most.”
The move to limit Lions Gate Hospital care to those needing immediate intervention comes days after three administrative staff at the hospital tested positive for COVID-19.
None of the people identified at LGH had contact with hospital patients, said Henry on Friday. All three are self-isolating at home and are recovering, according to a statement released by health officials.
Health officers are still investigating how those people picked up the virus and are following up with staff who may have had close contact with those people.
The North Shore has proved to be ground zero in the province’s growing number of coronavirus cases, with 12 healthcare workers at Lynn Valley Care Centre infected in addition to four deaths among elderly residents. An additional outbreak at Hollyburn House care home included one resident and one care worker who tested positive.
Health officials are now saying not everyone with symptoms needs to be tested for COVID-19, even among those who have returned from international travel.
Those with manageable symptoms should self-isolate at home for 14 days, according to health officials.
Those who are unsure can still call 811, although many people have reported difficulty getting through to nurse operators.
Editor's note: March 18, 2020
Information from Lions Gate Hospital Foundation regarding donations towards the cost of ventilators has been added to this article.
