HB Hospital full with acutely unwell people

26 November 2008

Hawke’s Bay Hospital full with acutely unwell people

Hawke’s Bay Hospital Soldiers’ Memorial is full to capacity following an influx of acutely unwell patients, and chief operating officer, Warrick Frater, is urging people to take steps to look after themselves.

“People coming into our Emergency Department (ED) are presenting with both medical and accident-related illness and injury.

“It’s vitally important to seek medical attention early, from your GP or medical centre. In many cases a trip to the doctor for expert advice and treatment can stop people getting so sick that they have to be admitted to hospital.

Mr Frater said the unusually high demand for emergency care has numerous flow-on effects throughout the hospital.

ED waiting times can be longer, particularly for those people assessed as non-urgent (i.e. people who could be seen and treated by a GP or after hours doctor). Furthermore 10 elective surgery patients have been postponed since Monday, the result of either staff being unwell, theatres normally allocated for elective surgery being required for emergency surgery or no intensive care beds being available for post- operative care of complex elective surgery patients.

“The simple message is: don’t delay seeking medical advice, see your GP first, unless of course it’s an emergency or chest pain, in which case you should always dial 111 for an ambulance,” Mr Frater said.

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