Interior Health (IH) has begun postponing non-urgent scheduled surgeries, following a directive from the Ministry of Health.
It is important to note that urgent and emergency procedures will not be impacted by this directive.
Interior Health is currently working with the Ministry of Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control to respond to COVID-19.
Patients with scheduled surgeries will be contacted by an IH booking clerk. In addition, for gastrointestinal and endoscopy procedures, patients may be contacted by their surgeon’s office. Patients should wait to be contacted directly about their procedure.
Some surgeries, including those related to cancer and scheduled caesarean sections, will not be impacted. Patients will be contacted to confirm date and time.
IH recognizes the significant impact of postponing surgeries. However, this is a necessary step to ensure they have enough hospital capacity for those affected by COVID-19, should they see a rapid increase in demand like other countries have experienced.
Interior Health will assess this action over the coming weeks and will advise patients when their procedure has been rebooked.
Interior Health has frequently updated information on its website at www.interiorhealth.ca.
