Coronavirus: Hamilton Health Sciences eyes site for potential 3rd-wave response structure - Hamilton

The province has set its sights on a parking zone in central Hamilton for a possible pandemic response construction to accommodate sufferers within the occasion of a 3rd wave of COVID-19.

Hamilton Well being Sciences (HHS) says it's “assessing” the Wellington Avenue parking zone by the Hamilton Common Hospital as a possible website to create some extra short-term inpatient capability.

“At present, we are only at the planning stage and assessing the lot for its potential use,” mentioned Wendy Stewart, public relations specialist at HHS. “The Wellington Street parking lot was chosen because of its proximity to other HHS facilities, including the Hamilton General Hospital.”

It’s being deliberate as a provincial useful resource and, if it goes forward, would have the capability for as much as 80 hospital-level beds.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Well being didn't have particulars instantly accessible on Friday afternoon.

Throughout a city corridor for employees and physicians on Thursday, HHS workers mentioned the construction could possibly be in place by the top of April, if obligatory.

3:13Considerations about third wave and getting again to regular

“It is intended to be a place of last resort if we saw inordinate bed pressures across our province,” mentioned Sharon Pierson, govt vice chairman of medical operations and chief working officer for HHS.

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]

“We are looking for those lower acuity medicine-type patients, should we need to use the structure, that could be COVID or could be non-COVID.”

She added that there are extra questions than solutions proper now, as the method continues to be in its planning part.

Different short-term pandemic response constructions have been constructed within the area in an effort to supply further capability for hospitals, ought to the quantity of COVID-19 in-patients exceed pre-existing capability limits.

One of many greatest is the pandemic response unit at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) in Burlington, which was inbuilt April 2020 however didn’t start admitting COVID-19 sufferers till this January.

That unit will swap gears and be used as a vaccination clinic for Halton Public Well being, starting March 12.

4:39Coronavirus: Extra mass vaccination clinics to open in Ontario in coming weeks

“We will continue to work closely with regional and provincial health partners to monitor the evolving situation and assess local risk, including the possibility of a third wave,” mentioned the hospital on its web site.

“JBH is prepared to respond to another surge in cases and if needed, shift the vaccination clinic to an alternative space onsite in order to quickly transition the PRU back to providing COVID-19 care in a matter of hours.” View hyperlink »