Chief Hospital Administrator at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Mary Walker urges persons experiencing non-emergency medical symptoms to visit their nearest Public Health or Family Medicine Clinic, as PMH is currently experiencing a critical shortage of bed space, which is impacting the hospital’s ability to admit patients for on-going care at the Accident & Emergency Department (A&E).

Ms. Walker added that there has been a surge in the number of patients presenting with respiratory and other related illnesses.

“There also remains a significant number of discharged in-patients on the Clinical Wards and A&E, ‘Boarders’ for whom relatives and emergency contacts continue to be unreachable or unwilling to collect their relatives,” she said at a press conference at PMH, Friday, January 26, 2018.

“This not only drains vital hospital resources but regrettably has further impacted the hospital’s ability to provide bed space for new admissions. The current overcrowding has also resulted in an increase in the waiting time for patients seeking care at A&E.”

Ms. Walker said the lack of nurses has compounded the issue of the overcrowding of A&E. “In order to accommodate the persons requiring admission, we have to open what we call virtual wards, which would be commissioned spaces that are waiting to be renovated; and every time we do that, it is overtime on the part of the nurses.

“We are getting to the point now where the nurses are too tired to respond to that call. In fact, we are not in a position to open up another virtual ward for that same reason. We cannot staff it.”

To help with the situation, retired nurses have been called in, and nurses have been recruited internationally.

Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Carolyn Burnett explained that the lack of beds is also affecting the ability to carry out elective surgeries. “Elective cases had to be cancelled today because we did not have the bed space to accommodate for surgery. The patients will be re-scheduled, and all emergency cases are still being done.

“As soon as the bed situation improves, then we will be able to do elective cases once more.”

Dr. Burnett said elective surgeries are not carried out on the weekends; but on Sunday evening, the medical staff will determine whether or not enough beds have freed up to allow for elective surgeries to recommence.

Chief of Service at A&E, Dr. Crystal Wells said the public should call A&E at 326-7014 if they are not sure where to present themselves.

The public is advised that clinic hours at the South Beach Health Centre, the Fleming Street Clinic, and the Flamingo Gardens Clinic have been extended from 8a.m. to 9p.m. Monday through Friday, and the Elizabeth Estates Clinic from 9a.m. to 9p.m. Monday through Friday.

Health Officials held a press conference, Friday, January 26, 2018 to alert the public of overcrowding at Accident & Emergency (A&E) at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Pictured from left: Principal Nursing Officer, Valerie Miller; Chief of Service A&E, Dr. Crystal Wells; Chief Hospital Administrator, Mary Walker; PHA/Acting Managing Director, Catherine Weech; and Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Carolyn Burnett. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

By Llonella Gilbert