Bluewater Health in Sarnia and Lambton College are preparing to change the school’s West and East Gymnasiums into a 150-bed field hospital as part of a provincial call to action for “next level” pandemic preparedness. This provides Bluewater Health with space should the hospital require additional capacity.
The hospital is currently running at 55% capacity. At this point, there are approximately 40 beds in use for COVID patients; the hospital has a capacity of over 300 beds, and can over-bed with an additional 84 beds.
Mike Lapaine, President & CEO, Bluewater Health said, “We are preparing for a possible patient influx and creating capacity to care for the residents of Sarnia-Lambton.” Bluewater Health has secured the Lambton College location to ensure that an offsite location is available should the unlikely event happen that the hospital is unable to deal with the volume of all ill patients, COVID and non-COVID.
Lambton College President and CEO Judy Morris said the college was “honored” to assist Bluewater Health in its “heroic battle” against this devastating virus.
Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn
