Overcrowding, Extended Wait Times at Accident and Emergency Department

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...