The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario is making some adjustment to its operations after the number of visits to its emergency ward doubled in recent days.

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario is expanding its emergency department, reducing select clinic activity and shuffling staff from other areas of the hospital to deal with high volumes of flu patients. (Steve Fischer)Hospital officials said two-thirds of the patients arriving at its emergency department had symptoms of influenza-like illness and had to be isolated from other emergency room patients

"As a result, our wait-times have increased, and there has sometimes been a shortage of seating in the emergency department," said Dr. Lindy Sampson, head of CHEO’s infectious diseases and pandemic planning.

In response, the hospital has decided to add more staff and expand its emergency department.

Sampson said the hospital's gastroenterology, respirology and endocrinology clinics will only provide “essential services” for the next four weeks to try and free up more space and staff.

Officials said the changes should make it possible for the hospital to shift more doctors to the expanded emergency clinic.

CHEO restricts visiting hours to fight flu

Samson said the hospital is also making adjustments to its visiting hours to try and reduce patients' exposure to H1N1.

“Effective now, we will only be allowing parents and guardians to visit while a patient is in hospital, in clinic and emergency department,” Samson said.

Hospital officials are also asking parents to take children aged 16 and over to other hospitals so CHEO can focus its attention on younger and sicker patients.