Following a surge in emergency department admissions, Health Ministry officials met in the south to address the challenges at St. Jude Hospital (SJH).
The discussions aimed to develop a plan to manage patient care and relieve strain on the hospital’s resources.
SJH Chief Executive Officer Lydia Atkins highlighted the significant impact the surge has had on resources and staff.
“Over the last week, we’ve seen an unprecedented surge of patients in our emergency department. This has placed significant pressure on our staff,” Atkins said. “Today, we met with the emergency department team to document the issues, discuss the problems we’ve observed, and most importantly, arrive at a sustainable solution.”
The team is also meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health to discuss strategies to address the surge and the increased need for additional beds and staff.
Dr. Sharon Belmar-George, Chief Medical Officer, emphasised the importance of the ministry’s proactive involvement on-site. “We’ve come to meet with the CEO and the clinical team at St. Jude Hospital to better understand the urgent issues affecting patient care,” Belmar-George said.
“While we’ve been having discussions with them, we felt it was essential to be on the ground to assess the situation accurately and implement effective, targeted solutions,” she explained.
The aim is to maintain high-quality care while addressing the growing resource demands.
SJH Medical Director Dr. Adelaide Moonie outlined the hospital’s strategy to reduce waiting times and improve patient experience.
“We recognise the challenges the surge presents to both patients and staff. Implementing strategies to reduce waiting times is a crucial step in ensuring we continue to provide the highest level of care,” Dr. Moonie stated. “We are committed to working through this difficult period and appreciate the public’s cooperation.”
As part of the coordinated response, the hospital has added six nurses and three physicians, procured 20 new beds, and received additional support from primary care facilities to ease emergency department overcrowding.
Nevertheless, SJH has urged the public to reserve the emergency department for actual emergencies and seek non-urgent care at primary health providers or wellness centers.
