CHEO Urgently Seeks Doctors’ Support as Flu Cases Surge

The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) has made an urgent request to family doctors as the flu season intensifies, resulting in a significant influx of sick children. Many of these patients are testing positive for influenza, leading to unprecedented pressure on the hospital’s resources.

In a letter addressed to regional family doctors, Dr. Vera Etches, CHEO’s president and CEO, highlighted the “early and intense start” of this flu season. She noted that the emergency department is experiencing patient volumes that have stretched its capacity to the limit. “These numbers have stretched our capacity to the limit, requiring interventions to address lineups at triage,” Etches wrote.

To alleviate the situation, Etches has asked physicians to consider extending their hours to accommodate urgent appointments for children showing respiratory symptoms. She specifically encouraged doctors to work evening and weekend shifts at the Kids Come First Care Clinic at CHEO, which is designed to treat children who do not require emergency care. “Your help would make a meaningful difference for children and families across our region,” she emphasized.

The hospital is currently seeing about 250 children per day in the emergency department, a number significantly higher than its designed capacity of 150. CHEO is also reporting that it is hospitalizing approximately twice as many children for flu and other respiratory illnesses compared to this time last year.

The severity of the flu season has prompted this direct appeal, which is an unusual step for CHEO. In November alone, the hospital reported that it saw eight times as many children testing positive for influenza compared to the previous year, along with a doubling in hospitalizations.

According to Karen Macaulay, vice-president of acute care services at CHEO, the hospital is committed to extending the hours of its clinic until 22:00 to manage the increasing patient load more effectively.

The call for additional support coincides with heightened vaccination efforts across Ontario. The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, has issued a memo urging public health units and healthcare partners to ramp up influenza vaccination initiatives. Currently, the dominant strain affecting the province is the influenza A (H3N2) subclade K, a new variant that has been associated with severe flu seasons in other countries.

Moore acknowledged that while this year’s influenza vaccine may not be a perfect match for the circulating strain, it still provides some level of immunity. Early studies from the UK indicate that the vaccine offers moderate protection against H3N2 and additional strains, including H1N1 and influenza B. “Vaccination against influenza remains the most effective measure to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths,” he stated.

Despite the challenges posed by the flu season, some healthcare professionals are advocating for the importance of vaccination. Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, an Ottawa family doctor, noted that her practice has administered flu shots to all patients who requested them. She expressed concern that messages about the vaccine’s efficacy may undermine vaccination efforts. “Even if it is not a perfect match, it is helpful, and that is the message people need to hear,” she said.

Influenza cases in Ottawa are reportedly high and continue to rise, with over 36 percent of those tested returning positive for the virus. CHEO is providing information about appropriate care options for families, emphasizing when to seek emergency assistance and where to find alternative care.

As the flu season progresses, the collaboration between hospitals and family doctors will be crucial in managing the health crisis and ensuring that young patients receive the necessary care. For further information on visiting CHEO and available services, families can visit the hospital’s official website.