With the recent downward trend in COVID-19 cases in our region and a corresponding loosening of various restrictions, the pandemic strain on hospital resources is lightening and full surgical services are resuming. This recovery phase is certainly welcome news to our Orthopaedic patients who have been amongst the hardest hit in their waits for surgical treatment, given the previous prioritization of operating room time. Fortunately we are now seeing a return to more normal access to surgery, which will allow us to begin to catch up on the surgical backlog.
The various pandemic guidelines and precautions continue to be followed at the Brandon Clinic, Brandon Regional Health Centre and Minnedosa Health Centre where we offer our services. (see BrandonClinic.com and PMH-Mb.ca) All patients are expected to go through the routine screening protocols, and those scheduled for surgery will require a COVOD-19 test prior to their procedure. While this will result in longer and more involved lead up to appointments and surgery, these requirements will remain in place for the foreseeable future, as we remain committed to the highest standards of health safety and virus exposure prevention.
We continue to offer patients the option of having their Brandon Clinic appointments conducted virtually by phone at their request. Any questions regarding the pandemic impact on their medical care can be directed to the clinic or respective hospital. It remains to be seen how quickly we can catch up on the wait lists now that we have full access to surgery, but the clinic, hospital and province are making this a top priority. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to strive for excellence in Orthopaedic care as efficiently as possible.