Today, we published a press statement from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) indicating that the Accident & Emergency Department (AED) continues to experience a surge in the number of patients seeking treatment. It was the second time in days that such a statement was released by the country’s major health facility. It is about the fourth or fifth time in recent weeks.Almost every weekend, QEH disseminates correspondence that speaks to a backup of patients in the AED. And while the statement always urges Barbadians to only visit if it is “life-threatening or an emergency”, the QEH seems unable to get a handle on the situation.The latest statement read in part: “We continue to register extended wait times in the department, especially for non-critical patients. Our Emergency Ambulance Service has also seen a significant increase in the volume of calls for medical assistance.“In light of this, we continue our appeal to the public, if you present to the AED at this time with medical conditions which are not deemed life-threatening or an emergency, you may experience a longer than desired wait for treatment.”The QEH’s definition of “life-threatening or an emergency” is “life, limb or sight-threatening complaints, gunshot wounds, heart attacks, active seizure activity or a patient who needs resuscitation”.
