Since the return of the annual flu season, children have been hit especially hard with respiratory viruses, and pediatric care units have taken the brunt of it.

The demand at children’s hospitals throughout the province and country is at an all-time high. In response to the increased demand, the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre is taking unprecedented steps to ensure the Pediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU) is staffed with capable hands.

Dr. Ram Singh, a pediatric physician at the London Children’s Hospital, says additional staff is being recruited from other departments of the hospital and from a pool of retired workers. Medical professionals with experience in the intensive care unit or pediatric department have been eager to help out.

While the hospital has some recent retirees, and Dr. Singh says medical professionals are susceptible to burnout and sickness, he doesn’t believe understaffing is the real problem. Instead, it’s the “unprecedented respiratory illness going around this year.”

Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 are the three illnesses plaguing our youth, and have been for a matter of weeks.

Just last month, the Children’s Hospital halted surgeries in an attempt to meet critical care and emergency needs. At that time, the hospital took measures to increase capacity in the pediatric ward, moving patients to different areas and setting up a virtual clinic.

In terms of space, more is still needed. The hospital intends to use the Post Anesthesia Care Unit to make extra room for young patients.

“We are now trying to do all the proper inspections, have our infection control team look at those areas and make sure they are safe for children,” Singh shared.

With emergency room closures becoming increasingly common throughout Ontario, Dr. Singh wants to reassure the community that the Children’s Hospital will stay open.

“We would never shut down,” he confirmed. “If [a child] is really, really sick they will get attention quickly. If they have moderate sickness then they have to wait for longer, and those with mild illness often have to wait for a number of hours before they are seen. But we will certainly respond to every child who comes through the door.”

To help ease the strain on the healthcare system, Dr. Singh says families and caregivers should do whatever they can to prevent viral infection. He urges the community to stay home if they are sick and wear a mask around the house to protect loved ones.

Above all, Dr. Singh recommends vaccinations. Flu shots are widely available, and children as young as 5-years-old can receive a COVID-19 bivalent booster shot starting next week.

Parents and guardians should also do their part to protect their young ones.

“A lot of the time, people who are pregnant, they worry about getting a vaccination during pregnancy, but not realizing that vaccinations are quite safe during pregnancy, and that your child is going to be protected from influenza if they are born after you have been vaccinated,” Dr. Singh said.

There is currently no vaccination for RSV, but Dr. Singh is “almost positive” it will be available by next year.

The Children’s Hospital will continue taking the necessary steps to continue operations and deliver care to children who need it, Dr. Singh concluded.

“We’re doing our best to meet your needs. No need to panic, but at the same time, we are going through some very unusual, stressful times.”