In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Interior Health (IH) is postponing all non-urgent scheduled surgeries, as directed by the Ministry of Health.
There are some surgeries that will not be postponed, including urgent and emergency procedures, surgeries related to cancer and scheduled Caesarean sections. IH will contact patients to confirm a date and time.
Patients awaiting scheduled surgeries should wait to be contacted directly about their procedure, says IH.
A booking clerk will contact individual patients to discuss the postponing of their surgery, and patients awaiting gastrointestinal and endoscopy procedures may be contacted by the surgeon's office.
"IH recognizes the significant impact of postponing surgeries. However, this is a necessary step to ensure we have enough hospital capacity for those affected by COVID-19, should we see a rapid increase in demand like other countries have experienced," reads a press release issued by IH Wednesday morning (March 18).
"Interior Health will assess this action over the coming weeks and will advise patients when their procedure has been rebooked."
IH is working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control to respond to COVID-19, and is prepared to adjust capacity as the pandemic requires.
For provincial information on COVID-19, visit the B.C. Centre for Disease Control website.
— Laura Brookes, Castanet
