The Montreal Children’s Hospital and the CHU Sainte-Justine ERs are under pressure because of the prevalence of viruses and respiratory infection, but many of the children being brought to the ERs don’t require emergency treatment.
Montreal’s two children’s hospitals are asking parents to avoid pediatric emergency rooms unless their child needs immediate care amid what the hospitals describe as a surge in the number of patients.
The Montreal Children’s Hospital and the CHU Sainte-Justine said Friday that their emergency departments have been under pressure this fall because of the prevalence of viruses and respiratory infection, and many of the children being brought to the ERs have minor health problems that don’t require emergency treatment.
The two hospitals say they won’t turn anyone away, but children who don’t need emergency care will face long waits.
“Upon arrival at the ER, each child is assessed by a member of the nursing staff, then seen by the doctor in order of priority,” Dr. Antonio D’Angelo, medical chief of the emergency department at Sainte-Justine, said in a release. “Children with colds, flu or gastroenteritis and mild symptoms can expect to wait several hours before seeing a doctor in the ER.”
D’Angelo said children with mild flu symptoms, gastroenteritis and fever can be treated at home and that those conditions generally last from three to five days. Though, he said, if symptoms persist, children should see a physician.
Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, average occupancy at the Montreal Children’s Hospital ER was 140 per cent, the hospital said, and more than 50 per cent of visits were for minor health problems.
At Sainte-Justine, the average occupancy rate was 120 per cent in October and patients with minor health problems accounted for more than 40 per cent of visits. Both the average occupancy rate and the percentage of patients who don’t need emergency care have risen over the past week, the hospital said, with occupancy rising to 142 per cent and the percentage of patients coming for minor problems reaching 45 per cent.
The hospitals say parents who are unsure or who are seeking treatment for a child’s minor health problem can call 811 to talk to a nurse, ask a pharmacist for advice or go to a walk-in clinic.
Parents should bring their child to the ER if they have a baby less than three months old who has a fever or a child who has unusual sleepiness or confusion, difficulty breathing or they’ve been vomiting or have diarrhea and are unable to retain fluids or show signs of dehydration.
Children with serious head trauma, cuts that may require stitches, suspected broken bones, eye injuries and burns causing blisters should be brought to the ER immediately.
If a child ingests poison, a drug or an unknown substance, parents are encouraged to call the Centre antipoison du Québec and then bring their child to the ER.