COVID-19 Precautions at Labrador-Grenfell Health

• Upon entering a Labrador-Grenfell Health facility, individuals must clean their hands with hand sanitizer and apply a medical mask provided at the designated entrance.
• Masks are required for the duration of the visit.
• Individuals presenting for services will be screened at the registration area.

Effective February 14, 2021, the following designated entryways will be accessible to the public for services:

We encourage the public to call ahead before visiting our facilities, including visits to the Emergency Department.

These restrictions are necessary to ensure the safety of patients, residents and staff and to limit the spread of illness, including COVID-19.

• Visitors will be screened upon entering the Long-Term Care sites.
• Visitors for admitted patients must be screened at the Nursing Station prior to entering the patient’s room.
• Labrador-Grenfell Health will contact the designated support person/visitor to discuss visiting times and procedures.
• Individuals must coordinate the visit with the site/health care team prior to presenting for visitation.

View Labrador-Grenfell Health’s February 13 public notice around current visitor restriction here. 

Effective February 13, 2021, all in-person visits with patients/residents are suspended until further notice and the general public are asked to not visit at this time.

The following exceptions apply:

• For pediatric patients – both parents/guardians may be designated as support persons. Only one support person may visit at a time.
• For labour and delivery patients – one partner/significant other may be present during labour and delivery. That partner/significant other may stay with the mother and baby for up to four hours following delivery.
• For palliative care and end-of-life patients – please discuss with the patient’s health care team.

In certain exceptional circumstances, inpatients and residents may be permitted one designated support person/caregiver for the duration of their stay while these restrictions are in place, consistent with Labrador-Grenfell Health’s person-centered approach to care.

• A support person may be a relative, legal guardian, friend, or formal/informal caregiver who provides direct care to the client (e.g., feeding support, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication, and assistance in decision-making).
• Each site will be reaching out to patients, residents and families today to determine who the essential visitor will be, where appropriate. 
• See complete details guidelines for support persons/designated visitors here.
• General visitation is not permitted at this time.
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For more information, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19. 

• Only urgent/ emergent surgeries and procedures will take place.
• All elective surgeries are being re-booked.

Labrador-Grenfell Health will contact affected individuals about their surgery.

*If you have questions or concerns about a change in your condition, please contact your health care provider, call 811 or proceed to the nearest Emergency Department if emergency services are required.

Following the recent announcement by the Provincial Chief Medical Offer of Health to move to COVID-19 Alert Level 5, Labrador-Grenfell Health is reducing select services at all its facilities beginning Monday, February 15, 2021. 

These restrictions will be in effect for 14 days. After the 14 days, restrictions will be re-assessed.

The following services will continue:

• Urgent/emergent procedures/surgeries
• Please note that patients who have traveled for procedures/surgeries will be accommodated.
• All telehealth services.
• All cancer services.
• In-center renal dialysis.
• Urgent medical imaging (i.e. X-Ray) and Laboratory services (i.e. blood collection).
• Urgent ambulatory care.
• Urgent therapeutic services.
• All mental health and addictions services.
• Inpatient rehabilitation and urgent outpatient services.
• Well baby clinics up to 18 months.
• Postnatal home visiting and support will continue either virtually or in person.
• Community based services for priority services based on client need (ex: Home Nursing Services, Emergency Home Support and Special Assistance Program, Public Health Nursing).
• Select in-person primary care appointments at outpatient departments, health centres and community clinics.

Alternative methods for delivering care such as telephone consults or virtual care has been implemented in lieu of in-person consultations when appropriate.

*If you have questions or concerns about a change in your condition, please contact your health care provider, call 8-1-1 or proceed to the nearest Emergency Department if emergency services are required.

More information on services continuing is available here

• Finance offices closed to the public. More information available here.
• Health Records offices are closed to the public. More information available here.

Cafeterias are closed to the public. More information available here.

• Designated visitors for patients and residents may bring food for themselves or the patient/resident.
• We ask that you not bring outside food or drink into our health facilities, including dropping items off for patients, resident and staff.
• Only clean clothes will be accepted for residents in long-term care or for admitted patients.

No toiletries or other items accepted for patients. Labrador-Grenfell Health is temporarily providing these.

Volunteering is temporarily suspended.

University and college student placements will continue.

The use of healthcare facilities for community groups is suspended.