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Back to SearchOttawa — April 13, 2021 — CHEO is readying intensive care beds and staffing as preparation for the potential transfer of adults requiring critical care.
Ottawa’s adult hospitals have already admitted record numbers of Covid-19 patients and admissions continue to climb. If patients need to be transferred out of those hospitals, it is preferable for them to be able to stay in Ottawa and not have to be transferred elsewhere in the province or country.
“This is unprecedented in CHEO’s 47-year history and reflects how serious the third wave of the pandemic is,” said Alex Munter, CEO and President of CHEO. “We need to do everything we can to stop the uncontrolled spread that is making so many people ill.”
From the beginning of the pandemic CHEO has been responding in close partnership with the other hospitals in the Ottawa area. Whether in testing, caring for residents of long-term care homes, or vaccinating in nursing and retirement homes, we have mobilized our people – while continuing to address the crucial health needs of children, youth and families.
CHEO has been running at or near full capacity through the winter and into early spring. Our dedicated ICU team has been developing a plan to go beyond our existing surge capacity and safely add ICU beds to allow CHEO to accept younger adults (approximately 40 years old and under). This plan enables CHEO to surge beyond its seven-bed ICU capacity to 12 beds, while minimizing the impact of this critical care activity on our mission to provide pediatric services. Children and youth will continue to be our priority for admissions.
Please note CHEO’s Emergency Department remains limited to patients under 18. If you are 18 and older and require Emergency care, please go to your nearest general hospital Emergency Department. Adult patients to be cared for by CHEO will be transferred directly from those hospitals. Children and youth will continue to be our priority for admissions.
Such transfers will only occur once adult hospitals in the Ottawa region exhaust available capacity after activating their surge plans.
Media contact
media@cheo.on.ca
About CHEO
Based in Canada’s capital, CHEO is a globally renowned health institution with a mission to provide exceptional care and support to children, youth and their families. Opening our doors in 1974, we offer a full range of specialized pediatric care and services to children from eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Our site is home to a hospital, a children’s treatment centre, a school, a research institute, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa as an academic health science centre. Named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024 and 2025, we are home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives.