The Accident and Emergency Department (AED) at the Owen King EU Hospital (OKEUH) is under severe pressure, with patients having to wait several hours for non-urgent care.
As a result, the hospital’s management on Monday issued an advisory, urging the public to seek alternative care for non-life-threatening conditions.
CEO of Millennium Heights Medical Complex, Dr Damian Greaves explained that over the past 12 months, there has been a steady increase in patients with serious illnesses requiring admission to the hospital. This surge has led to full hospital wards, resulting in a shortage of in-patient beds.
“There are more than 50 admitted patients in the department currently. All the existing wards at the hospital are at full capacity and patients requiring admission must now be managed within the Accident and Emergency Department for extended periods before they can be transferred to a ward,” he said.
“This has resulted in extended waiting times for non-urgent care more than four to six hours. As such, the overcrowding situation is placing a severe strain on the AED’s capacity to meet patient’s demands in a timely manner.”
Dr Greaves has urged the public to seek alternative care options for minor health complaints at the Gros Islet Polyclinic, the recently opened Dr Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic located at the former Victoria Hospital, and health centres near their homes.
“All patients with life-threatening conditions who present to the AED will continue to be seen and treated immediately and patients with serious conditions will also be treated as high priority,” Dr Greaves assured. “Other patients who present to AED at this time will experience extended waiting times until this overcrowding situation is rectified.”
“The management and staff sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to the public but assures the public that we are working tirelessly to reduce the overcrowding and extended waiting times to better serve the public in Accident and Emergency Department,” the CEO added.
He said minor health-related conditions can be effectively managed at the Urgent Care Units at the following healthcare facilities:
Dr. Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic
Contact: 468-8880
Gros Islet Polyclinic
Contact: 468-7637 | 468-7630 | 723-0663
Dennery Hospital
Contact: 468-7650 | 468-7651 | 468-7657
Soufriere Hospital
Contact: 468-7601 | 468-7603 | 485-8681
