Situation critical at London hospitals where ER wait times are too long

LONDON, Ont. – Hospital officials are warning that the situation is critical at London hospitals where wait times in emergency rooms are too long and there aren’t enough beds for patients.

Officials at the University and Victoria hospitals are considering cancelling surgeries and they’re asking patients with minor injuries to go to their family doctor or a walk-in clinic for treatment.

Neil Johnson, vice-president of medicine services at London Health Sciences Centre, says even though 14 new beds were opened at the facility last month, many patients are waiting 23 to 30 hours to get a bed.

He denies the decision to cut hours at St. Joe’s urgent care centre is contributing to the bed shortage.

The wait times warning comes as the Middlesex-London Health Unit reports a rise in influenza activity and a second flu death in the community.

Progressive Conservative health critic Christine Elliott said she’ll ask Health Minister Deb Matthews about the shortage when the legislature resumes next month.

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