Long-delayed elective surgeries back on track for September at Brampton Civic Hospital

Dr. Frank Martino, Chief of Staff at William Osler Health System, said elective surgeries that have been delayed at Brampton Civic Hospital (BCH) are back on track.

Martino, who is an advisor to both the provincial and federal science tables, was speaking at Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown’s weekly COVID-19 news conference.

The 30-year physician said there are only three people with COVID-19 at Brampton Civic Hospital and only one in ICU. And that reduction of cases is allowing Osler, and hospitals across the province, to start to work through the backlog of postponed procedures.

“Osler is carefully and gradually resuming the surgeries and procedures that were delayed as a result of the pandemic,” he said. “We know we have our work cut out for us when it comes to reducing this backlog.”

Later in the day, the province announced a $324 million package to help with this issue.

Martino said hospitals in different parts of the province would resume the procedures on different schedules. With BCH having been hit particularly hard during the pandemic, he doesn’t envision it being one of the first to get things back to normal.

“Our goal (at BCH) is to return to full capacity in all services by September while always being prepared to resume and respond to any new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.”