London's Children's Hospital is facing "extremely difficult circumstances" as they see record emergency visit numbers and staff shortages, a trend seen across the province this spring, officials say.

"We are extremely busy. We're actually at record volumes. We have never had a May this busy in our history," said Dr. Rod Lim, medical director in the pediatric emergency department at the Children's Hospital.

"It's been an extremely challenging time," Lim said.

The emergency department is seeing about 180 visits per day. That's an 80 per cent increase from May 2019, London Health Sciences Centre officials said. While the wait time varies, the average is about three to four hours.

"Huge numbers" at the children's hospital have been met with a complexity of challenges including nursing shortages and limited space, said Lim. Increased community spread of viruses, barriers to accessing family doctors and population growth in the region have all added to the rising number, he said.

Image | Dr. Rod Lim

Caption: Dr. Rod Lim is the medical director and section chief of the pediatric emergency department at the Children's Hospital at the London Health Sciences Centre, in London, Ont. (Submitted by Dr. Rod Lim)

Load Image

Viruses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are circulating among children at an "unusual" rate for this time of year, he said.

Nursing shortages have led to "crisis staffing levels" with isolation, retirements and career changes contributing factors, he said. Pandemic stress has led some nurses to take other jobs.

Despite challenges, Lim said the creativity, hard work and passion he sees from colleagues everyday makes him proud.

"We just continue to try to be creative and energetic," he said. "We are trying every possible strategy in order to have those patients that come for help to our hospital, to try to help them as best as we can."

May has been busier-than-usual for other children's hospitals across Ontario. Ottawa's Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Hamilton's McMaster Children's Hospital and SickKids in Toronto all reported high numbers.

"People are at the core of everything we do," he said. "We hope that the public is patient with us as we do the best as we can."

Lim wants to remind the public to reach out to primary care providers when possible, and for children to stay safe while having fun this summer.