The Dryden Regional Health Centre is currently experiencing higher than normal demands and volumes of patients across all of their services.
Vice-President of Patient Care Services Doreen Armstrong-Ross is apologizing for longer emergency room wait times and unusually high occupancy in their inpatient unit.
Armstrong-Ross says staff are working very hard to deliver high quality services as best they can, and as quickly and safely as possible.
She says hospital capacity at one point this week was at 132%, or ten extra patients needing beds.
If you are feeling unwell with symptoms of a cold or flu please avoid visiting patients and for non-emergency care, you are asked to reach out to the Dryden Area Family Health Team at 223-7406 for an appointment.
Armstrong-Ross says the increase in patient volumes can be attributed to an early start of flu season, those needing surgeries and those waiting to get into a long-term home or assisted living.
