Chief Executive Officer of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Neil Clark appealed for public cooperation as the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department grapples with another surge in patients.
Clark and Head of A&E, Dr Anne-Marie Cruickshank noted that the current surges at A&E were caused by several factors, ranging from a rise in respiratory illnesses common during the winter season, trauma-related cases such as gunshot wounds and road accidents, as well as complications from non-communicable diseases specifically among the elderly.
Patient intake is also being affected by the unavailability of beds, 61 of which are currently occupied by elderly patients who have been left in the care of hospital by relatives, some as long as three months.
Clarke explained that teams were working to address these challenges with support from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, as the pressures affect the QEH’s ability to admit patients from the A&E department. (JRN)