QEH warns of continued delays in A&E

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is again warning the public of delays in the Accident and Emergency Department, as it continues to experience a surge in patients.

In a notice, the QEH says 5 days on from its most recent advisory, A&E remains very busy, with 47 patients waiting to be seen by the medical team as of noon today.

As a result, the QEH says it continues to register extended wait times in A&E, especially for non-critical patients. The Emergency Ambulance Service has also seen a significant increase in the number of calls for medical assistance.

The QEH has warned that people presenting to A&E with medical conditions which are not deemed life-threatening or an emergency may experience a longer than desired wait for treatment. However, life-threatening conditions under the Triage System will continue to be seen and treated immediately. These include patients who have life, limb or sight threatening complaints, gunshot wounds, heart attacks, active seizure activity or a patient who needs resuscitation.

The Hospital is advising members of the public that if they are unsure about their medical complaint, to determine if they need to present to A&E they can call the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS/Help Desk) at 536-4800 using regular or WhatsApp calls from 9:00 a.m. to midnight during this surge.

There is also the option of visiting the 24-hour Winston Scott Polyclinic at Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael for treatment or a private General Practitioner.

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