(The Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario. Photo: CUPE Hospitals.ca)
In times like these, when we are rationing everything from toilet paper to soap to hand sanitizer, it’s important to think of the doctors and other healthcare workers on the front lines. These dedicated workers are the ones battling this horrid disease and do not have an adequate amount of equipment to do so. This is certainly true for those working at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital (QCH).
For a brief period, the QCH had a drive-thru testing facility for COVID-19. However, it was only for a single night because the hospital was trying to ease the backlog of people looking for tests before the assessment center at Brewer Arena opened.
Healthcare workers at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital (QCH) put out a plea online for donations of protective equipment as they stand on the front lines battling COVID-19. Monetary donations were also asked for.
As the pandemic spreads, hospital and paramedic services are seeing a shortage in protective equipment. Paramedics in Renfrew issued their own call for donations this week. Donations can be made here: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/renfrew-paramedics-issue-call-for-medical-equipment-1.4867251.
A small group of University of Ottawa medical students got together to gather supplies. In short time, they were able to gather more than 2,000 masks and 60,000 pairs of gloves to donate to local hospitals.
On Newstalk’s 580, CFRA’s The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll, Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that the province has more than five million masks and 12 million gloves on order. The Premier also assured the public that several Ontario companies are retooling so that they will be able to supply critical items like N95 respirator masks.
“If you look at these unprecedented times, and the volume of equipment and supplies that we consume, it’s so far outside our normal,” said anesthesiologist Dr. Sanjay Acharya in an unlisted YouTube video that was sent to CTV News Ottawa. “A crisis like this can easily add $30,000 a week to our operating costs and it can go upwards from there.”
In an unlisted Youtube video that was sent to CTV News Ottawa, you can see the former chief of staff as well as anesthesiologist Dr. Sanjay Acharya stated that “If you look at these unprecedented times, and the volume of equipment and supplies that we consume, it’s so far outside our normal”. He can also be seen in the clip saying that, “ A crisis like this can easily add $30,000 a week to our operating costs and it can go upward from there.”
Donations can be made to the Queensway-Carleton Hospital Foundation through La Vie Executive Health with this link — https://www.laviehealth.com/donate or to the hospital directly here.
Later in the evening yesterday, a QCH spokesperson clarified to CTV News Ottawa that the video was not part of a formal campaign but that they still welcome donations.
The spokesperson stated that, “We encourage any business or individuals who have supplies — particularly masks, gloves, gowns, disinfectant wipes, Purell and eye protection to please donate them. More details are available by contacting local hospitals.”