Second wave of flu could add to overcapacity issues at Windsor Regional Hospital

Windsor Regional Hospital's overcapacity issue may be improving, but a second wave of the flu next month could set them back, according to the hospital's Chief of Staff.

Although the overcapacity numbers have been dropping, Gary Ing said he expects a spike in patients next month because that's typically when Influenza B strikes.

• Critical shortage of beds at Windsor Regional Hospital

• Bed shortage at Windsor Regional Hospital puts strain on nurses

Right now,both the Metropolitan and Ouellette campuses are hovering around 103 per centcapacity. That means more than 30 patients who have been admitted aren't in a proper hospital bed.

"We want to take care of every patient the way that we look after our relatives, our parents," said Ing. "But under the circumstances sometimes it's very difficult there are priorities, there are competing interests."

Despite the excessive number of patients, Ing said the hospital isstill prepared for the worst-case scenario.

"If you have a mass disaster in the community ... then we have to postpone our surgeries tomorrow indefinitely until we get everybody looked after," said Ing. "So we do have that type of contingency plan."

• More surgeries cancelled at Windsor Regional Hospital as bed shortage continues

Between 20 and 25 surgeries have been postponed in the last month because the hospital isoperating overcapacity.

At its peak, Windsor Regional Hospital's Met campus was operating at 113 per cent capacity.