In a move intended to improve safety for staff and patients, Guelph General Hospital will soon require proof of vaccination for most non-patient visitors.
“Our goal is to balance the value essential visitors have in a patient’s healing process with the need to do everything we can to provide a safe environment for patients, staff and eventually volunteers,” said Melissa Skinner, vice-president of patient services and chief nursing executive, in a news release.
“Now it is more important than ever to take every step we can to further support the safety and well-being of those who receive care, visit or work (at) our hospital.”
The new policy comes into effect on Nov. 9, just as similar ones do at several other hospitals in Ontario.
“No one will be denied care based on their vaccination status,” Skinner stressed.
Some exemptions to the vaccine mandate will be made. They include essential visitors of emergency department patients, critically ill patients receiving critical care, patients for whom safe care cannot be provided without the support of an essential visitor, pediatric patients, and patients experiencing pregnancy loss.
As well, the support person for women in labour or who are post-partum will be exempt.
