This week, Kitchener hospitals have seen highest number of patients visit emergency department ever

Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, Ont., reported treating the highest number of people at the emergency department in a 24-hour period ever this week.

Staff treated 295 patients in a 24-hour period between Tuesday to Wednesday, a spokesperson said.

"The team is still seeing an increase in patients due to population growth, respiratory illnesses, and [Tuesday's] weather contributed to a number of individuals who arrived with slip and fall related injuries," an email from the hospital to CBC News said. Tuesday saw freezing drizzle in the region with icy sidewalks and roads.

Grand River says it wasn't the only hospital to see more patients this week — "all local emergency departments saw an increase in patient volumes" on Tuesday, the hospital said.

At Cambridge Memorial Hospital, they were over 100 per cent capacity on Tuesday and it remained at 110 per cent capacity on Wednesday.

The hospital said on Tuesday, there were 131 visits and at one point there were 22 patients in the emergency department waiting for an inpatient bed. 

St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener also reported a high number of emergency patients on Tuesday.

There were 184 visits between midnight Monday and midnight Tuesday, a spokesperson said in an email.

"Pre-COVID, we would see about 150 to 155 in a day and more recently, 160 to 165," the hospital said.

St. Mary's also hit a record high of 104 patients in the department — "60 patients at a time is what we would typically consider busy."

The hospital said the spike in visits was related largely to the icy conditions outside and injuries sustained by falls, in addition to the usual mix of illnesses.

"We thank everyone for their patience and thank our incredible team for caring for each patient," the hospital said.

Grand River Hospital says despite the increases, and staff who may be tired, health-care workers "managed this increase in patients with skill and compassion."

The hospital also warned people they may have to wait longer to be seen if they go to the hospital and, when possible, they should seek other options such as a family doctor, urgent care clinic or the regional COVID-19, Cold and Flu Care Clinic located at 50 Sportsworld Dr. in Kitchener.

"We will provide patients with the best care possible, and we ask for patience as we manage these high volumes," the hospital said.

Grand River Hospital and Cambridge Memorial have wait time clock on their websites, but both are currently undergoing maintenance "to make the wait time information as accurate as possible," the hospitals' websites say.

The St. Mary's General Hospital wait time clock is operational.