Hospital readies for battle

The emergency department has been split in two, along with a separate triage, to help patients be directed to the correct area of the hospital to protect those who have Covid-19 and those who do not.

States of Guernsey medical director Dr Peter Rabey said the provisions at the hospital were ready. ‘We have been bought time by the strategy that Public Health have adopted and by the engagement of the public in staying at home.

‘We are fortunate because, although our hospital is small, we’re pretty well prepared. We’ve worked closely with primary care, so they know who should come and who should be in the hospital, then the emergency department, the medical service in the hospital and finally the critical care service.’

He added the emergency department had undergone a few changes, with a cabin just outside the department where a nurse wearing personal protection equipment would act as a triage directing people to where they should go.

The department now has two separate units, one for those who might have Covid-19 and the other for those who do not, but need the emergency department, and are said to be clear on who needs testing, who needs to be admitted and what the process is.

‘We have five negative-pressure rooms in the hospital,’ Dr Rabey added.

‘We’ll put our patient first into those rooms because that provides the best possible protection for our staff and others in the hospital.

‘It’s likely that we’ll get more than five and we’re ready for that, we have side rooms, which we can use with PPE lobbies for people to put on before going in to those rooms and eventually we’re prepared to use entire wards to cohort Covid patients should it get to that stage.’

He said they had increased the amount they could handle at home by ordering equipment such as oxygen concentrators for any overwhelming situation.

‘Remember, for most people this is a mild disease that can managed from your home,’ he said. ‘We’re in a very good position but we can still be overwhelmed.

‘Any health system can be overwhelmed with this disease and that’s why it’s so important to stay at home and follow Public Health advice.

‘Please stay at home and make everything easier for us.’

There has also been what is said to be a huge amount of work to have enough beds, as well as 15 ventilator units.

Health & Social Care president Heidi Soulsby added the number of Covid-19 cases were rising and patients were now being admitted to the PEH.

‘Both Gavin and I visited the PEH on Friday. For me, it felt like the eve of battle,’ she said.

‘Preparations have been made, staff have been trained and the equipment is in place, we’re as ready as we possibly can be for what is coming ahead.

‘This will be all for naught if we don’t follow Public Health advice about staying at home.’

She added that islanders should leave the house for only one of four reasons – shopping for basic necessities, such as food and medicine, for up to two hours exercise a day, for any medical need, if instructed to do so by a healthcare worker, or travelling to and from work, but only where it is essential.

‘Things are going to get worse before they get better,’ said Deputy Soulsby.

‘I was speaking to Health & Social Care’s director of operations [Matt Jones] when he said it feels to me like we’re on the bottom of the hill.

‘It’s incumbent on each and every one of us to prevent that hill becoming a mountain – we can do it but we can only do it together.’

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