NEWS RELEASE
ROYAL VICTORIA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE
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This may be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but it’s important to plan ahead in order to stay healthy during the holiday season.
“We can’t stress enough that people need to be prepared and know how to access health services during the holidays,” says Dr. Kathryn Armstrong, clinical director, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) Emergency department (ED). “We hope that people don’t require emergency care over the holidays, but if they do, RVH is always open. Many family physician offices are closed and the urgent care and walk-in clinics have modified schedules so our Emergency Department may be busier than normal and wait times may be longer than usual. Patients need to remember that we treat based on how urgent their condition is and not on a first-come, first-served basis.”
If you do need to visit the Emergency Department, remember to bring your health card, along with a list of your medications.
If your condition is not an emergency, there are five walk-in clinics in Barrie.
The Barrie Family Medicine Clinics are located at 125 Bell Farm, 555 Essa Road, 121 Wellington Street, and 505 Yonge Street.
The hours of operation can be found online or by calling 705-726-1544.
The Huronia Urgent Care Clinic is located at 480 Huronia Road (705-792-0933).
Clinics are closed on December 25, and have modified hours during the holidays.
Call the clinics or consult their websites before heading out.
Just as important as knowing where to get help is knowing when to get help.
“Always seek medical attention when you are experiencing pain or tightness in the chest, shortness of breath or when you experience a sudden drooping in your face, difficulty raising your arms, and slurred or jumbled speech,” says Dr. Armstrong. "You should bring your child to the Emergency department if he or she has significant vomiting and diarrhea with very little urination. You should also bring your young baby (under three months of age) to hospital if he or she develops a fever over 38.0 C (100.4 F) or if you have any concerns with a sick child of any age."
If you are unsure if a trip to the Emergency Department is required you can call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0007.
This is a free and confidential telephone service you can call to get health advice or general health information from a Registered Nurse.
Please note that a call to Telehealth does not replace 911 – that’s always the first number you should call in emergency situations.
If you have a loved one who is spending the holidays in hospital and you are unable to visit, you can send them a message through RVH’s Best Wishes service which can be accessed via the RVH website.
“The delivery of safe, high quality care remains our top priority regardless of it being the holiday season,” says Janice Skot, RVH president and CEO. “We make preparations well in advance of the holidays to ensure we are adequately and appropriately staffed. Our dedicated and skilled team is here to provide safe, high-quality care - 24/7, 365 days a year.”
Other tips to keep you and your family healthy:
- Ask your doctor’s office what back-up coverage they recommend when they are closed, such as after-hours clinics or an on-call service
- Update emergency telephone numbers and post in a visible place, such as your refrigerator
- Make sure everyone in your family has enough medical supplies, prescription and non-prescription medications, needles, alcohol swabs, etc., and make sure inhalers, respirators, oxygen and glucose-testing machines are in good working order
- Know where the nearest 24-hour pharmacy is located
- Remind visiting family members and friends to bring their health cards or health coverage documents and an adequate supply of prescription medications with them
- Wash your hands clean to stop the spread of germs, protecting you and your family
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