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Severe Blood Shortage Delaying
Cardiac Surgeries
at The Toronto Hospital
(Toronto, March 25, 1997) Some cardiac patients
who have waited weeks or months for their surgeries are waiting a little
longer because of a severe blood shortage, The Toronto Hospital announced.
And despite the increased funding for cardiac surgery announced last week
by the Ministry of Health, many surgeries will continue to be delayed if
the blood shortage persists.
"The situation is extremely serious," says Dr. Tirone David, Head
of Cardiovascular Surgery at The Toronto Hospital. "We are now cancelling
about two operations a day because of the severe shortage. Many of these
patients have waited a long time for their surgery only to be told once
they arrive we don't have their blood type."
The Toronto Hospital performs between 10 and 12 open heart operations a
day. Approximately, two of these cases are being postponed because of the
severe blood shortage.
"This is particularly hard on the patients and staff," Dr. David
says. "More than half of our cases are done on an urgent basis and
they are being postponed because of the blood shortage. Unfortunately, many
of these patients then come back as emergencies.
"This is a critical time. The Ministry of Health has announced the
reinvestment of health care dollars for cardiac patients; we can't let these
patients down because of the blood shortage," Dr. David adds.
To help support cardiac and other surgeries, the Red Cross Toronto Blood
Centre is holding a number of blood donor clinics including:
Friday, March 28, 1997
Manulife Centre
55 Bloor Street West, Second Level
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For complete clinic information, please call the Toronto Blood Centre at 416-974-9900.
For more information, contact Josey Panetta, Senior Media Relations Officer, The Toronto Hospital, (416) 340-3303.