Supporting Families with Loved Ones in Hospital

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting at Bluewater Health has changed. Please consult our website for the most current visitor restrictions. Visits are now pre-arranged, with a family care partner, or essential visitor, identified by the patient on admission.

While the change was made to protect the well-being of the Sarnia-Lambton community, our patients and staff at Bluewater Health, it can be isolating for patients and challenging for staff to stay in touch with patients' family members. Families/care partners play a vital role in a patient’s care experience and healing, and staff are accustomed to providing patient information in person. The nursing stations welcome phone calls – there can be competing demands at certain times of the day, so please ask the charge nurse about the best time to call.

Bluewater Health has many supports in place to keep patients and their loved ones connected:

Drop Off Personal Items

Personal belongings (limited to the essentials listed below) or food items can be dropped off at the Russell Street entrance and a staff member will bring it to the patient floor. We can’t promise how quickly the items will get to the floor, though, so try to avoid sending things like coffee or ice cream as food items will not be refrigerated or reheated on the units.

  • Aids: glasses, hearing aids and extra batteries, dentures, shoes, canes and gait aids
  • Cell phones/chargers, laptops, tablets
  • Personal toiletries (new in package, if possible): soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, brush
  • Cultural: traditional medicine and prayer necessities
  • Unopened packaging or items placed in clear containers for cleaning
  • Reading material (e.g. large-print Reader’s Digest); large-print word puzzle books; craft/activity materials (e.g. knitting, colouring books and pencils); deck of cards; a family photo
  • Loose-fitting clothing and a robe or sweater/cardigan to keep shoulders warm

Please send clean items in a sealed zipper storage bag or clear plastic container, labelled with the patient’s name and complete room number. Canes and gait aids should be similarly clean and labelled. Bluewater Health is not responsible for personal items.

Sending E-cards 

Loved ones may send a card through our website, at https://www.bluewaterhealth.ca/send-an-e-card-to-a-patient

Community Resources

Age-Friendly Sarnia-Lambton
Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton
Canadian Mental Health Association
Lambton Elderly Outreach - LEO
St. Clair Child & Youth Services
Family Counselling Centre - TelCheck program

Please contact the Patient Experience Office at 519-464-4436 with additional questions.

Maps & Directions

Bluewater Health’s programs and services are distributed across two locations, Bluewater Health in Sarnia and Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital of Bluewater Health in Petrolia. 

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Emergency Care

Bluewater Health’s Emergency Department (ED) provides safe, quality emergency nursing and medical care to patients.

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Mental Health & Addictions Help

If you or a loved one needs support with mental health or addictions.

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Compliments & Concerns

We are always looking for ways to improve, and welcome your questions, comments, suggestions and concerns. If you’re in hospital, please speak to the hospital staff.

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Locate a Patient

Find or contact a patient by telephone, email or e-card.

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