Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) says more changes are in the works to help deal with the overwhelming capacity surge at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

HHS provided an update this afternoon saying they’re extending care inside the hospital, adding more beds, and working on a plan to transfer young teens to adult sites to help alleviate the pressure.

The hospital network says it has spoken with provincial officials and says financial assistance is on the way.

HHS says surges in pediatric illnesses and staff shortages are the reasons why occupancy is now at 130 per cent and emergency department wait times are at historic rates at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Hospital president Bruce Squires says they’re working to alleviate overcapacity and surgical backlogs. They say more beds are being added, virtual care appointments will be available if needed, and teenage patients will move to other HHS adult hospitals if appropriate.

“We certainly recognize the impact of these very changes is large and troubling to patients and their families,” Squires said.

Along with a staff shortage, a minimal supply of children’s Tylenol and antibiotics exacerbates the strain on the health system. Squires says Mac Kids has connected with the province for assistance.

“The province has flowed $1.3 million prorated, to allow us to enable alternative pathways to help support our ED volumes at this time,” Squires said.

Today’s update comes as premier Doug Ford and many members of his government are being criticized for not wearing a mask in the legislature, following Ontario’s chief medical officer of health’s strong recommendation for every adult to wear one inside public spaces.

“Why is the premier not taking leadership and wearing a mask to protect our children?” NDP MPP Peter Tabuns said.

Ontario minister of long-term care, Paul Calandra says, “the member will know full well that this government has been taking leadership right from the beginning of the pandemic, even in instances where the members opposite refused to work with the government.”

Deputy premier Sylvia Jones was one of the few Ford government officials wearing one, “personal choice is important here, we should not be passing judgment on people who wear a mask or not wear a mask.”