As medical supplies become day-to-day and deliveries become uncertain, RVH and others continue plea for donations

RVH CEO Janice Skot: "We have let our staff know that we are at about a one-week supply,"

With supplies dwindling, health care facilities including RVH in Barrie are looking to businesses and the public for help. People are also urged to avoid putting pressure on the health care system by avoiding hospitals unless absolutely required.

“Our supplies at RVH change day by day, its really dependent on the usage day by day,” said Janice Skot, President and CEO at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), “Today, I would say we are concerned about the supply we have, particularly of masks,”

“We have let our staff know that we are at about a one-week supply, and of concern, because we’re not in a process where we can rely on when the next delivery will come,” Skot told Barrie 360 over the phone Thursday.

Skot points out the hospital is not alone in worrying about its supply longevity. “We are concerned about the supply shortage of our personal protective equipment, and it is like this in the rest of the province as well. So it’s not unique to RVH, and really, many organizations share our concern about the supply that’s available,” added Skot.

Related: Simcoe County, Muskoka Region join Health Unit in making big push for medical equipment donations

On top of the RVH Foundation actively collecting donated medical equipment including masks and personal protective equipment, the County of Simcoe is working with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and the District of Muskoka on a medical supply drive. The former directly supports RVH, while the latter will distribute supplies to medical centres, clinics, and long term care facilities across the region.

“What’s really important will be the social or physical distancing of the public, to stay well,” Skot added, “stay home, because here at RVH, we’re staying here for you,” Were the hospital to see a surge in cases, that would deplete its supplies before they could be replenished, putting RVH staff at risk. “We’re trying everything possible to make sure we conserve the supply we have, so it’ll last as long as possible. But, always, protecting our healthcare workers, that’s our number one priority,”

“Of course if you need us for the emergency department, then we expect you to come. But otherwise, we would ask you to not come to the hospital,” Skot concluded.

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