NCDs Contributing To OKEU Hospital Bed Management Crisis

Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), along with injuries from accidents and acts of violence, have contributed to a bed management crisis at the OKEU Hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department. The disclosure came during Wednesday’s Millennium Heights Medical Complex (MHMC) news conference. Reporters heard the patient care situation has burdened the OKEU Hospital’s resources. Last week, the MHMC said a high influx of patients within the OKEU Hospital’s A&E Department would result in extended wait times, especially for non-urgent cases. As a result, it urged people to seek non-urgent care at their nearest community Wellness Centre. At Wednesday’s News Conference, Director of Clinical Services Dr. Lisa Charles disclosed that medical staff have been seeing ‘sicker and sicker’ patients in the past decade. Charles said the patients primarily suffer from chronic non-communicable diseases related to conditions including hypertension, diabetes, strokes, heart, and renal failures. She explained that the sicker the patient, the more interventions, resources, and bedside time by doctors in the emergency room they would require. In addition, Charles told reporters such patients would spend more time in the hospital. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of two beds per thousand population. With Saint Lucia’s 180,000 population, the Island...