Orange saw an increase in transfers of pediatric patients as pediatric hospitals were under pressure. globalnews.ca

Ontario’s Air Ambulance Service says it is seeing an increase in the number of children who transfer due to respiratory illnesses.

orange says the increase comes as its pediatric hospital partners have also seen an increase in the number of patients seeking care.

Orge says it has not transferred any pediatric patients outside of Ontario so far.

But it says that since it may be required to transport patients to areas outside the province at any time, including cities in the United States, each shift requires staff to carry their passports .

It added that staff may receive reminders about the need for passports to ensure they are able to respond to patients’ needs.

The combination of RSV, flu and COVID-19 is putting immense pressure on Ontario’s pediatric hospitals, with many having to cancel surgeries to accommodate the influx of patients.

Last week, the province asked thousands of family health care workers to work evenings and weekends to help ease the burden on children’s hospitals.

Ontario Health, the agency that oversees the province’s health care system, recently directed the province’s general hospitals to admit children 14 and older who need critical care.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Kieran Moore has said he does not expect the respiratory season to peak until mid-December.