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Vol. 8 Edition 12
YOUR Independent Community Newspaper THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021
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Surgeries return to CKHA By Pam Wright Contributing Writer
Pam Wright/Special to The Chatham Voice
Dozens of pairs of children’s shoes adorn the base of a monument on Walpole Island First Nation erected in 2002 to honour the children from Walpole Island who attended residential schools. Members of the First Nation community brought the shoes following the discovery of the bodies of 215 children at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C. See story on page 2
Elective surgeries at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance are back and expanded operating room hours are in the wings. According to Lori Marshall, president and CEO of CKHA, outpatient and day surgeries, such as hernia repairs and some joint procedures, came back online May 25. But how the hospital goes forward to clear a backlog of some 2,400 surgeries will depend on the organization’s soonto-be released 2021-2024 strategic plan. Decision making by the hospital will be aligned with findings by the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, Marshall explained, which is currently conducting a survey of patient health care. In the end, Marshall said it all comes down to timing, with the length of surgery wait times marking how the hospital “measures our success.” Part of the plan, she said, will likely include adding operating room hours on evenings or weekends and better optimization of existing op-
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erating rooms. Specialized hires may be needed to cope with the expansion of hours as well. Marshall said, the health of hospital staff is another factor that needs to be considered as services return as the pandemic has been “especially difficult” for hospital workers. Staff members need time to heal and recoup, she noted, and take some time off. Marshall said the hospital has been working hard to come up with ways to help staff cope with pandemic stress by making extra mental health programs and supports available. Sustained wellness of employees is the goal, she added. Last week’s elective surgery start-up came after the government rescinded an order made April 20 to cancel all non-elective surgeries across Ontario. The move was made in order to clear space in the event of an influx of COVID-19 patients. Some out-of-town patients have had to be accommodated during the pandemic, Marshall said.