The support of loved ones is important when recovering from an illness.
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) president and chief executive officer Janice Skot acknowledged the restrictive visitor policy, which has been in place on and off over the course of the pandemic, is difficult on patients, their families as well their health-care providers.
Knowing that, Skot says the Barrie hospital has put in place an appeal process families can undertake in order to be with their ill family member.
“We know family is integral to patient wellness. … This is a province directive that we will follow, however if someone needs an essential caregiver with them, for reasons that can be identified at the bedside, then that is what happens," she said. "If a patient is palliative, there is a process that can be evaluated to see if a patient's family member can come for a limited amount of time.
”We also have an appeal process through our Patient Experience Office, where we encourage people who aren’t satisfied with that bedside decision, that they at least have a process in place now where they can have a second look at this," Skot added. "I have been seeing that, for good reasons, different decisions can be made.”
Skot acknowledges the provincial directive — which restricts all visitors, with the exception of pediatrics/neonatal intensive care unit and birthing unit/obstetrics — may not be in the best interest of the patient.
“Will we all look back and wonder about the decisions that were made in the time? I think we will. Our role is to follow that directive and to ensure that everyone in the organization working, practising and, of course, receiving care is as safe as possible,” she said.
“It’s been very difficult to implement it. It’s not the decision or solution that we know is right for everyone and that’s why we put appeals in place."
