Southlake Regional Health Centre is joining a number of hospital across the province in requiring that visitors must be fully vaccinated.
Effective Nov. 15, the Newmarket hospital is mandating all visitors show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (two doses plus a minimum of 14 days), along with government issued identification for every visit, according to a news release.
Southlake is joining 14 other Ontario regional hospitals, including Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill and Vaughan, in the policy.
Exemptions will be limited and may include visitors for children aged under 18, patients in labour and delivery, imminent end-of-life patients, NICU and pediatric patients, and some emergency department patients.
Masks are still required in the hospital at all times.
“Southlake staff and physicians are committed to the emotional well-being of patients, families and caregivers. We recognize the importance visitors play. In addition to requiring vaccination for visitors, Southlake will also continue to provide innovative methods to support patients to communicate with their loved ones virtually,” said Elizabeth Ferguson, vice-president, clinical transformation, patient experience and chief nursing executive at Southlake.
A new telephone booking system will be in place after Nov. 15 for visitors to book a visit with an inpatient. Details for the booking system will be posted on Southlake’s website on Nov. 15.
Patients suspected of or who are confirmed COVID-19 positive will not be permitted visitors.
Central Region hospitals, who supported the province's August 2021 directive that hospitals institute COVID-19 vaccination policies for employees, staff, contractors, volunteers and students, issued a statement on behalf of their CEOs and chiefs of staff supporting the mandatory vaccination policy for visitors.
"All hospitals recognize the importance visitors have on the well-being of patients receiving care and their families. In order to ensure that hospitals are as safe as possible for patients, staff and visitors, a mandatory vaccination policy for visitors will be implemented at most Central Region hospitals," the statement said.
"We want our communities to know that this decision was made with extensive consultation and consideration for issues of equity, fairness and ethical concerns. As one of the hardest-hit regions during this pandemic and because of the proven effectiveness of the vaccine against this virus and its variants, we encourage everyone eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible."
Participating Central Region hospitals are: Collingwood General and Marine Hospital; Georgian Bay General Hospital; Halton Healthcare Services Corporation; Headwaters Health Care Centre; Mackenzie Health; Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare; North York General Hospital; Oak Valley Health; Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital; Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre; Southlake Regional Health Centre; Stevenson Memorial Hospital; Trillium Health Partners; Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care; William Osler Health System.
Also enacting the policy is University Health Network in Toronto.
Visit Southlake’s updated visitor guidelines for more details about exemptions. Visitors can call 905-895-4521 and ask for the inpatient booking line to schedule a visit.
