The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is taking in non-critical care patients from Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) to help create more bed space for the city.
The WRH previously announced it was forced to transfer as many as 20 patients to nearby southwestern Ontario hospitals including the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and Bluewater Health in Sarnia after it ran out of room from treating the overwhelming volume of COVID-19 cases.
Due to changes in circumstances, Windsor was not able to transfer as many patients as originally discussed, though 50 patients have since been sent to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare in Windsor.
In a release on Thursday, the LHSC said five patients from Windsor will be transferred to London within the next 24 hours.
"LHSC remains committed to transparency in reporting our current number of COVID-19 inpatients. The number of COVID-19 inpatients reported on our website will be updated to include any COVID-19 patients transferred from WRH,” the statement read.
London-Middlesex has had a total of 4,038 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began, while Windsor-Essex has struggled to keep its numbers down, seeing more than 9,045 cases.
"We appreciate the assistance of these amazing hospital sector colleagues for their cooperation in helping us as we work to ensure we can maintain safe and quality patient care," said WRH President and CEO David Musyj.
London is currently treating 41 COVID-19 patients with more beds available if necessary, while the WRH is treating 60.