The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is still under pressure from a surge in patients, leading to even longer waiting times for those presenting to the Accident & Emergency Department (AED).
Yesterday, in an advisory, QEH communications specialist Shane Sealy said the hospital continued to respond to one of the most significant influenza outbreaks in recent history, alongside ongoing trauma cases and post-holiday complications associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“While the AED has been able to respond effectively to a recent influx of trauma cases, this has contributed to a build-up of other patients awaiting assessment and treatment, resulting in extended waiting times. Demand for emergency services continues to rise,” Sealy said.
The communications specialist said that while some members of the clinical staff had also been affected during this wave of influenza and had reported sick, the AED teams continued to work around the clock to meet the increased demand and to ensure that patients received care based on clinical urgency.
“We urge the public to please pay attention to the official updates from the QEH on the current situation in the Accident & Emergency Department as we manage this sustained and increased demand for emergency care,” Sealy said.
Life-threatening and critical conditions will continue to receive immediate care in accordance with the AED triage system, while patients with less urgent conditions should expect longer waiting times.
Sealy advised those who were feeling unwell and unsure whether to attend the AED to contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS/ Help Desk) at 536-4800, available via regular or WhatsApp calls, as it continued efforts to extend the hours of the service. It is at that point the team will conduct an initial assessment and advise on the most appropriate next steps for care.
The QEH is “strongly” advising members of the public with non-emergency concerns to seek care at the 24-hour clinic at Winston Scott Polyclinic (Jemmotts Lane, St Michael) or from a private physician. Meanwhile those visiting the QEH “are strongly encouraged to wear a mask”, particularly in clinical areas, to help protect patients, visitors and staff during the current influenza outbreak.
On January 3 the hospital initially issued a statement advising patients to seek care elsewhere after the institution went on temporary lockdown while attending to several people connected to a mass shooting, in what police described as a planned gang ambush in The City, during which ten people were injured. (AC/PR)
