An article in today’s Island Sun newspaper claimed that doctors working in the Emergency Ward at the National Referral Hospital have raised concerns over a lack of bed space in the Emergency Ward.
Two doctors who have spoken out have said 21admitted medical patients are without beds because there are no beds for them in the medical ward. It is also claimed it is no good to force a patient who is in pain to have to sit on a chair while awaiting admission to the medical ward
The Chief Executive Officer for the National Referral Hospital Dr George Malefoasi in an interview with Island Sun has said the bed shortage is an ongoing clinical and management issue for the hospital.
Dr.Malefoasi said doctors and nurses along with the NRH management are continuously engaging in monitoring, discussing and finding ways to manage the bed demand and shortage issues as a daily routine as well as longer strategic measure.
He said the ideal situation is providing more beds which meant building additional wards but this was a medium and long term plan of the Solomon Islands Government.
Dr.Malefoasi added, the Emergency Department is the point of entry of most patients, once seen they are then referred for admission to the in-patient teams depending on the severity of illness or given treatment and investigations ordered for follow up.
He said the ED has 20 beds and sees from 60-100 patients in a day. The admission rate is 13.6 percent from the data in 2020, an increase from 12 percent from 2019.
“Admitted patients to the wards at times can spend from 24 hours to up to 7 days in the Emergency Department waiting for a bed on the ward. This means that new patients presenting that day to the Emergency department may not have a bed as it is already occupied by those awaiting transfer to the ward,” Malefoasi said.
He said at the ED, the management is buying additional mattresses for patients to use whilst proper beds are freed up.
“Communications among departments and ED will be strengthened, and bed management will be strengthened.Source: Island Sun newspaper.
Comment.
I try to understand the situation for I also once spent 3 days on a hospital trolley in the Emergency and Accident Department of a hospital while awaiting admission to a ward
If hospital beds are needed and can be acquired and accommodated at the NRP then I will do my utmost to seek the help of my partner charity in New Zealand for their early supply
Likewise if hospital trolleys could provide a short-term solution to a lack of available beds and avoid sick patients having to sleep on the floor when in pain, then again I am ready to seek assistance.
If either beds or hospital trolleys are needed then the MOHS would need to cover the shipping freight for at least one 40 ft container from New Zealand
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
