You will be waiting longer than normal if you go to the emergency room of a Quinte Healthcare (QHC) hospital.
The corporation that runs the North Hastings Hospital says all their hospitals are experiencing an influx of patients. As a result, they say those with non-urgent issues will have to wait longer, as patients are cared for based on how sick or injured they are. They stress that how long you wait has nothing to do with when you arrived.
QHC says there are a variety of symptoms that would require the emergency department. These include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath when resting, severe stomach pain, tightness or pain in the chest, stiff neck and sensitivity to light, seizures, broken bones, wounds that need stitches, disorientation, mental health emergencies like psychosis, or continuous vomiting with severe diarrhea. Children with a temperature of over 38 degrees celsius should also be taken to the emergency room.
For non-emergency assessment, QHC advises people to contact their primary care provider or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. You can also visit a walk-in clinic.