Some patients cared for in \u2018unconventional\u2019 spaces, such as alcoves, hallways, and dining rooms<\/p>\n
Published Jan 06, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 10\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
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As of Tuesday, Sault Area Hospital is shouldering 119 per cent occupancy. JEFFREY OUGLER\/ THE SAULT STAR Article content<\/p>\n
There appears lesser\u00a0room at the inn than ever.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Sault Area Hospital said Tuesday\u00a0\u201cextremely\u201d\u00a0high patient volumes are forcing some patients to\u00a0be\u00a0cared for in\u00a0\u201cunconventional\u201d\u00a0spaces, such as alcoves, hallways, and dining rooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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As of Tuesday, the region\u2019s principal\u00a0health-care\u00a0facility is shouldering 119 per\u00a0cent\u00a0occupancy, with 18 patients admitted in the emergency department waiting for an inpatient bed and another 31 individuals waiting to be seen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis level of demand can, unfortunately, result in longer wait times, which is challenging and tiring for everyone,\u201d SAH said in a social media post. \u201cOur team prioritizes care for the sickest patients first to ensure those in urgent need receive\u00a0timely\u00a0treatment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This overcapacity due to a combination of factors rather than a single cause, SAH says.<\/p>\n
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While increased pressure during peak respiratory illness season was anticipated, the current situation reflects broader, compounding system-wide challenges, director of communications and public affairs Brandy Sharp Young told The Sault Star.<\/p>\n
Key contributing factors include more than 70 individuals currently awaiting placement in alternate level of care settings, which limits the availability of inpatient beds. <\/p>\n
\u201cSeasonal illness surges, including influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses, are also contributing, alongside an aging population with increasingly complex and chronic health needs,\u201d said Sharp Young, adding that high emergency department volumes are resulting in increased hospital admissions, and higher patient acuity is leading to longer lengths of stay. <\/p>\n
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\u201cIn addition, limited access to primary care is contributing to avoidable hospital admissions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Sault Area Hospital said it recognizes that primary care shortages are one of several contributing pressures. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen individuals are unable to access timely primary or community-based care, conditions can worsen and require hospital-level treatment, placing additional strain on emergency and inpatient services,\u201d Sharp Young said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Sault Area Hospital says it is following its established surge plan and is managing patient volumes within the organization. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis plan does not include transferring patients to other regional or provincial hospitals,\u201d Sharp Young said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The hospital is working closely with health system partners, including long-term care providers, Ontario At Home and Ontario Health, to manage patient flow and support appropriate transitions of care. <\/p>\n
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\u201cThese partnerships are essential in addressing overcapacity and ensuring patients receive care in the most appropriate setting,\u201d Sharp Young said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the public is asked to limit visitors to only those essential to supporting the patient. <\/p>\n
\u201cReducing congestion helps our teams focus on providing timely, appropriate care,\u201d SAH said.<\/p>\n
Also, expect longer wait times than usual. Non-urgent patients may use SAH\u2019s\u00a0Virtual Home Waiting Room<\/a>\u00a0to check estimated wait times and wait from home until closer to their expected turn.\u00a0<\/p>\n SAH says patients with non-urgent needs may consider alternatives, such as contacting their family doctor, nurse practitioner, or visiting a\u00a0community walk-in clinic.<\/a><\/p>\n The hospital\u00a0suggests\u00a0those experiencing an emergency call 911 or\u00a0proceed\u00a0directly to the emergency department. Those unsure whether their symptoms are an emergency can speak with a registered nurse for health-related advice 24\/7 by calling Health811. Call 811 or visit\u00a0https:\/\/bit.ly\/3NvM2Dg.<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe ask that you please be kind and patient with our staff as they manage multiple demands,\u201d SAH said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYour\u00a0understanding and support during this extremely busy time are\u00a0greatly appreciated.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout this period, we continue to focus on providing safe, high-quality care for every patient, even during these exceptionally busy circumstances.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n None of this comes as a surprise.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Sault Area Hospital<\/a>\u00a0reported in late fall it continued to be plagued by capacity pressures, which officials predicted were bound to only balloon as the respiratory season hit full stride.\u00a0<\/p>\n Senior staff developed a multi-phased, \u201cdetailed\u201d plan to manage increased patient volumes during peak respiratory activity, which includes optimizing inpatient and critical care capacity, strengthening staffing models and ensuring \u201cefficient\u201d patient flow throughout the hospital.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe have consistently greater than 300 in-patients in our facility and we struggle currently with a considerable number of alternate\u00a0level\u00a0of care patients,\u201d SAH president and CEO Ila Watson told\u00a0board members<\/a> and senior staff then.\u00a0<\/p>\n Occupancy reached as high as 324 last summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0state-of-the-art\u00a0Great Northern Road facility, which opened in 2011 to replace two smaller buildings on Queen Street East, was geared to house some 290 inpatients. In fact, the new building was 20 per cent larger than the two former hospitals combined.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since then, SAH has had to convert areas not intended for inpatient use into bed spaces.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe continue to find contingency spaces by doing less desirable things like using recovery spaces, spaces that we might have as dining rooms we have patient spaces,\u201d Watson told\u00a0September\u2019s board meeting<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how stretched we are and how deeply we need to go to look for additional space.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n