Newfoundland and Labrador’s four regional health authorities said Wednesday they are starting to roll out plans to revive procedures and services that were suspended two months ago by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, patients waiting to see specialists or who have had procedures cancelled should not expect a full return to how the health system had been operating before the pandemic.
In four separate but quite similar news releases, the authorities indicated services will be restored gradually.
“Medical imaging, endoscopy, cardiac diagnostic and surgical services have been identified as areas within the health-care system that can gradually and safely begin to resume service at this time,” Eastern Health, the province’s largest regional health authority, said in a statement.
Central Health, Western Health and Labrador-Grenfell Health also said work is now underway to set priorities for which cases are handled first.
Newfoundland and Labrador moved to what’s called Alert Level 4 on Monday, triggering some small changes in public health emergency orders.
The transition also allows regional health authorities to start bringing patients back into institutions, although in a very controlled manner.
“The resumption of services will be a gradual process,” Dr. Martin Vogel, vice-president of medical services at Central Health.
“Our focus will be on reopening the most urgent surgeries and procedures while ensuring patients and staff are appropriately equipped with personal protective equipment.”
The authorities said patients will be contacted directly about rescheduled appointments by physicians’ offices.