The cautionary bedtime rhyme may be more easily said than done: Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.

Toronto Public Health has had an increase in calls about bedbugs in the past few years, suggesting the small, nocturnal blood-suckers have increased in numbers. And recent media attention has put bedbugs in the headlines.

“I have seen an increase in the number of patients with bedbug bites,” says Dr. Sophie Hofstader, a dermatologist who has been with The Scarborough Hospital for over 50 years. “I see at least one or two cases a week.”

Walking through the surgical suites at the General campus, Dr. Michael Chapman compares the operating rooms to an old car.

“We’ve changed the tires, we’ve changed the chassis, and we’ve even put in air conditioning. But our four cylinder is having trouble keeping up with the 12 cylinders. If we had a 12-cylinder car, we would continue to lead,” he says.

Recently, the Corporate Chief of Surgery shared his analogy with Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews while taking her on a tour of the ORs. He, and Patient Care Director of Surgery, Nurallah Rahim, pointed out the inefficiencies, the challenges and the hospital’s vision for a modern surgical pavilion that would better serve our community.

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