Toronto hospital capacity crunch prompts pediatric transfers to SickKids to make space

Toronto hospitals are transferring some young patients to SickKids hospital to make room for adult COVID-19 patients.

Unity Health Toronto says as of Thursday, pediatric patients at St. Joseph’s Health Centre may be transferred to SickKids if their physician determines care can be met there.

It says St. Joseph’s, William Osler Health System and Humber River Hospital are all working with SickKids.

The effort is expected to continue until COVID-19 patient volumes “return to more reasonable levels.”

Unity Health says the system is working to ensure patients get the care they need during the “complex time” of the pandemic’s second wave.

The hospital network says parents can still bring their children to St. Joseph’s for care.

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