Health News For South West


Tuesday, October 29, 2024
London Health Sciences Centre
London Hospitals Introduce Respiratory Season Masking Guidelines

As we enter the fall respiratory virus season, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) are introducing respiratory season masking guidelines to better reflect the current health and safety risks.  
 
Effective Thursday, October 31 at 12:01am, LHSC and St. Joseph’s will introduce updated masking requirements.
 
“The fall respiratory season is upon us, and it’s time to update our masking requirements accordingly,” says Dr. Kevin Chan, Corporate Medical Executive at LHSC. “Changes to our masking guidelines are aligned with our regional and provincial partners, with a goal of ensuring staff, physicians, volunteers, patients, caregivers, visitors and our community remain protected while respiratory viruses circulate this fall and winter.”
 
As respiratory season begins, it is crucial to enhance our safety practices to protect everyone in our care, especially our most vulnerable patients. Our updated masking guidelines, along with a strong emphasis on vaccination and hand hygiene reinforce our commitment to creating a safe and healthy environment for all,” says Dr. Adam Dukelow, Vice President of Medical and Academic Affairs at St. Joseph's Health Care London. “The health and safety of our patients, residents, staff and community remains our top priority.”   

What This Means for You
 
For patients/visitors:  
 
  • At LHSC and St. Joseph’s we recommend that you wear a mask in all clinical areas, care settings, inpatient and outpatient settings and when in direct contact with a health care worker, especially in our Inpatient Units, Emergency Departments, Urgent Care, the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, clinical waiting rooms, and Outpatient Clinics.
  • Patients at LHSC and St. Joseph’s with a fever or respiratory symptoms are required to mask in all clinical and non-clinical settings (except if in an inpatient room or bed space).
  • Visitors with a fever or respiratory symptoms are being asked to reschedule their visit when their symptoms improve.  
  • Masks will continue to be available at designated entrances and in care settings.  
 
For staff/physicians:  
 
  • Masking will be required when providing direct patient care in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings, including waiting rooms and in LHSC’s Emergency Department and St. Joseph’s Urgent Care Centre.
  • Masks are recommended but will not be required in common spaces including hallways, cafeterias, office spaces, auditoriums, communication desks, and/or laboratories.
  • Masks will continue to be available at all entrances and in care settings.
 
 We would like to thank patients, families, and the community for their ongoing support as we move towards these new requirements and recommendations to ensure our hospital communities are protected throughout the respiratory season. As always, we will continue to assess our infection prevention and control safety measures on an ongoing basis.  
 
For media inquiries contact:
                                                                 
Allison Hansen                                         
St. Joseph’s Health Care London            
Communication & Public Affairs             
519-646-6100 ext 61501                       
allison.hansen@sjhc.london.on.ca          

Celine Zadorsky
Senior Media Relations Consultant
London Health Sciences Centre
226-927-2309
media@lhsc.on.ca

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