Lakeridge Health said its Emergency Departments continue to experience critical staffing shortages and high patient volumes.
This is impacting overall wait times for less acute patients and increasing the time that Region of Durham Paramedic Services (RDPS) is able to offload ambulances at Lakeridge Health hospitals, it said in a statement.
“If your situation is less urgent, and does not require immediate medical intervention, Lakeridge Health and RDPS recommend considering options such as urgent care, walk-in clinics, primary care, and/or virtual care options in the community,” said the joint Lakeridge and RDPS statement.
“For all individuals in medical emergencies that pose an immediate threat to life—where rapid medical intervention is critical and needed right away—please call 9-1-1 or head to the nearest Emergency Department. Life-threatening conditions include unconsciousness, trouble breathing, lack of pulse, chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath or dizziness, severe bleeding, and other serious trauma or conditions. All people who arrive at a Lakeridge Health Emergency Department who are experiencing life-threatening conditions and/or are in a situation that poses a sudden threat to life are cared for immediately,” said the joint Lakeridge and RDPS statement.
A list of urgent care options is available on the Lakeridge Health website. Patients can also use Lakeridge Health’s Emergency Department Wait Times Tracker. This online tool provides an approximate time to see a physician for non-emergency situations in Lakeridge Health’s four Emergency Departments.
Ensuring all Durham Region residents have access to emergency medical services, when and where they need it, is a top priority for Lakeridge Health and the Region of Durham Paramedic Services (RDPS). Thank you for your patience as the Lakeridge Health team works as efficiently and safely as possible to see all patients waiting in the Emergency Departments, the statement added.