The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is again making an appeal to members of the public to collect family and wards who have been discharged from inpatient care.
In a statement, hospital management said failure to make prompt arrangements for those cleared and formally discharged was affecting the availability of beds.
“A number of patients who are fit for discharge remain in hospital because transportation or family arrangements have not yet been completed. As a result, several beds continue to be occupied by patients who no longer require inpatient care, limiting the hospital’s ability to admit patients from the Accident and Emergency Department who require urgent medical attention,” the statement said.
“At the same time, the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department is experiencing increased demand, with a significant number of critically ill patients requiring urgent assessment, treatment and admission. These pressures are contributing to delays in patient flow across some areas of the hospital.”
Meanwhile, the QEH is trying to expedite the collection process by contacting families and caregivers.
In spite of this, the hospital said patients with critical and life-threatening conditions would continue to receive immediate care, but those with less urgent conditions might experience longer waiting times due to the current demand for emergency and inpatient services. (PR/SAT)
