Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Faces Increased Patient Volumes:

Alternate Options to seek Care this Family Day Weekend

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) has been experiencing a surge in patient volumes over the past week, as the South Georgian Bay region faces a rise in acutely ill individuals. While our dedicated team works tirelessly to provide timely access to care, we want to ensure that our community is informed about potential impacts on services and alternative locations to seek care, as we head into the Family Day weekend.

While our Emergency Department remains open, extended wait times may occur due to high patient volumes. We encourage community members to check our Wait Time Clock, which provides estimated wait times as a guide to help assess current department activity level. You can view the Wait Time Clock here.

“A surge in very ill patients presenting to the hospital may also impact scheduled surgeries. Should a procedure need to be rescheduled, the hospital and surgeon’s offices will make every effort to notify patients as early as possible. However, in some cases, notifications may not be sent before a patients scheduled appointment time. We understand this can be frustrating and appreciate your patience as we work to reschedule at the earliest opportunity,” says Rosemary Frketich, VP Patient Services and CNE.

Individuals with a minor illness or injury, may be able to access the Emergency Department through CGMH’s Fast Track Booking System. Same-day appointments are available for conditions such as strains, sprains, cold and flu, urinary tract infections, skin rashes, and minor lacerations requiring stitches. Eight appointment spots are opened daily to better manage minor ailments and ensure the Emergency Department remains available for more critical cases. You can access the ED Fast Track Online Booking System here.

In addition to the resources available at CGMH, we are collaborating with local healthcare providers to further support the community.

The Collingwood After Hours Clinic is a walk-in clinic designed for South Georgian Bay residents who need medical advice but are unable to reach their family doctor or nurse practitioner. The clinic, operated by the local Family Health Team Doctors, is open Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with expanded weekend hours now available from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You can find more information on the clinic here.

The Wasaga Beach After Hours Clinic is a walk-in style clinic open to all residents in the South Georgian Bay area (Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township and the Blue Mountains). The clinic is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Registration starts at 4:30). Closed all Statutory Holidays. You can find more information on the clinic here.

We remain committed to providing the highest level of care to our community, and we are deeply grateful for your continued understanding and patience as we work through this challenging period.

Additional local health care resources can be found at: https://southgeorgianbayoht.ca/community-wellness/. Please continue to follow the hospital’s social media channels for any additional updates.