North Bay Regional Health Centre is safe for all patients

Please don’t postpone essential care because of the pandemic

If you are sick and need help, the North Bay Regional Health Centre is here for you.

Staff and physicians at NBRHC want our communities to know we are still available to patients for urgent health care needs and emergencies unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NBRHC Emergency Department Manager Joan Brazeau says that while our communities are doing their part to support our health system as it prepares to respond to COVID-19, patients shouldn’t hesitate to seek treatment at the hospital.

Medical emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, and broken limbs still happen during a pandemic,” Brazeau says. “Please don’t delay receiving care because you are worried about COVID-19. Our Health Centre is prepared to safely provide care to all our patients.”

That’s also the message from Nipissing Paramedic Services. Manager Stephen Merkley says if you have an emergency and need help, please don’t hesitate to call 911. Merkley says they are asking the community to be open and honest about their symptoms when calling 911 for the safety and protection of paramedics and first responders.

 “To make sure we can safely provide care, we ask that you let us know if the person needing help has a fever, new onset of cough, or difficulty breathing,” he explains. “We also need to know if the person has been a close contact to anyone with an acute respiratory illness or a COVID-19 suspected or probable case in the last 14 days.” In saying that, still call if you need us—this information will help the teams safely prepare to care for you.

If you have an emergency please don’t hesitate. Call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

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Contact:
Lindsay Smylie Smith
Communications Specialist
lindsay.smyliesmith@nbrhc.on.ca