Patients in Barbados' Queen Elizabeth Hospital Wait Over 24 Hours for Medical Care

by Jenique Belgrave

Unbearable! This is how three patients have described the length of time it is taking them to receive medical care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s (QEH) Accident and Emergency(A&E) Department.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY on Saturday evening, the women, who requested anonymity, said they had been in the department’s waiting room for well over 24 hours seeking attention.

Clutching her injured arm, one said she had arrived the previous evening, and was frustrated that she was still awaiting treatment.

“They gave me two painkillers and sent me up to x-ray…Since then they have not asked if I needed another painkiller, but just have me here sitting down for hours…I had to beg for another injection around two o’clock…This is not right!” she said.

Meanwhile, a lady who was accompanying an elderly patient suffering from various ailments, including high blood sugar, said they had arrived on Friday morning and had yet to be seen by a medical professional.

The third patient explained: “I came in yesterday with signs of a stroke coming on. They did a heart test, put a band on my hand and put me back in the waiting room awaiting a CAT Scan since 12.30 yesterday afternoon, and up until this moment, nobody has gotten a CAT Scan. I believe that by now, I should know what is going on. I have not seen a doctor since I was here. I have seen one nurse, and that was between 12 and 12.30 yesterday.”

The three insist that better communication is needed in the A&E, pointing out that several other patients in the waiting room had spoken of being there for over 72 hours with little to no information being shared as to when they will be treated.

“It is wrong, they should be able to tell you ‘Look we have a whole set of people to deal with’. Come and say something but nobody won’t say anything,” she stressed.

In a release issued last night, QEH’s Communications Specialist Shane Sealy said the A&E department has been extremely busy over the last 48 hours, with those persons falling into the category one and two being given priority over those in the non-critical categories.

“There has been a significant increase in category three patients, which typically represents over 60 per cent of the volume in AED. This has affected waiting times for non-urgent cases such as those who fall into categories four to five,” he said.

Stating that those waiting have been assessed via its triage system, which prioritises categories of care, Sealy explained: “Priority must be given to cases considered critical and our medical team is working around the clock to address patients as they present to the department.”

He urged those persons with non-life-threatening conditions to head to the 24-hour polyclinic.

“We encourage people who have general complaints and do not have life-threatening conditions, to utilize the services of the Sir Winston Scott Polyclinic, which remains a 24-hour operation,” he advised.