A new unit for paediatric patients at Windsor Regional Hospital opens on Friday.
The hospital received funding from Ontario Health to open the Paediatric Emergency Diversion Service, which will divert patients under 18 from Emergency Departments and reduce wait times during the busy fall and winter seasons.
During the pandemic, Windsor Regional Hospital operated a stand-alone clinic focused on those patients suffering from respiratory issues. The hospital tailored that program to meet current needs.
First, young patients will be triaged in the Emergency Department. Those who meet the criteria will be quickly assessed and transferred to a dedicated space on the pediatric unit at Met Campus. A specialized team of healthcare professionals will treat them.
"The new Paediatric Emergency Diversion Service will help ensure our paediatric patients are receiving efficient, high-quality care during peak times for respiratory illnesses during times when the availability of community services is limited," said Vice President of Surgery, Peri-operative, and Women and Children's Services Rosemary Petrakos.
The service will run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., when the hospital sees the most paediatric patients and services in the community are limited.
Between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, there were about 95,000 visits to the Emergency Department. As many as 12,000 involved paediatric patients.
