Wards full, delays remain at Bustamante Hospital

The Bustamante Hospital for Children says there is no significant change to the situation which has resulted in extended delays for patients seeking admission at the medical facility.

On Friday afternoon, the South East Regional Health Authority alerted the public to an extended waiting period to be admitted to the wards because of a significant increase in the hospital’s patient load.

The Senior Medical Officer for the hospital says much hasn’t changed since that advisory was sent more than 48 hours ago.

However, Dr Michelle Ann Richards-Dawson said it is normal for the hospital’s traffic to spike around this time of the year because of an increase in fever, respiratory and asthmatic cases.

She said this year the problem is being compounded by an increase in the number of dengue cases.

Dr Dawson says it’s hard to say when the situation will taper off because dengue cases are not decreasing.

She is appealing to parents to seek early health care for their children to prevent admission.

The Senior Medical Officer is also urging parents to utilise their nearest health facility or their family doctor, explaining that hospitalisation is usually required, when patients cannot be managed at out-patient facilities.

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