More ops cancelled as PEH faces unprecedented demand
BED OCCUPANCY at the hospital has reached 96% as it continues to experience an unprecedented amount of pressure.
Islanders are being asked to go only if absolutely necessary following 10 days of exceptionally high demand for medical services, particularly in the Emergency Department.
The hospital was on the highest level of black alert yesterday and more elective operations have had to be postponed.
Health & Social Care said there were 14 emergency admissions on Monday alone, with high levels of respiratory illness and other medical conditions.
‘This is the most demanding period that HSC has experienced for some time,’ the spokesman said.
‘Peaks and troughs of capacity are expected during the winter months, but the level of sustained service pressure experienced in the last 10 days is unprecedented.’
Pressures have not been exclusive to the hospital, as community nurses have worked together to deliver packages of care for patients, and social workers have tried to facilitate discharges for those no longer needing hospital care.
St John has seen a 10% increase in call-outs in the first quarter of the year compared with 2017.
Primary care practices have also said they are busy, with one reporting an increase in flu-like symptoms over the last week.
Guernsey has tended to lag behind the UK by around two weeks with incidences of flu and respiratory illness and while Public Health England is now showing decreasing levels of flu, the island is still said to be at risk in the coming weeks.
Medical officer of health Dr Nicola Brink said islanders with coughs, colds, sickness and diarrhoea should think carefully whether it is appropriate for them to visit friends or relatives in hospital or health and wellbeing facilities.
She said islanders over 65 or with certain medical conditions would benefit from getting the flu jab as protection.
‘Therefore, all are being urged to arrange to have the vaccine as soon as possible. These conditions include chronic lung or heart disease, kidney or liver disease, HIV infection, diabetes and severe obesity,’ she said.
On-call and consultant staff have worked to ensure there are no delays that could slow up discharges from hospital.
Patients who are fit have been asked to be collected by 11am on their day of discharge to ensure the bed can be freed for others.
Islanders have been asked to contact their doctor or pharmacist first if they are feeling unwell and that out of hours GP cover is available.
HSC grades its bed occupancy using a colour-coded system where black is over 95%, red is over 90% and amber is up to 90%.
Hospital staff in Jersey have been reporting similar issues.
