QEH under strain as bed shortages grow amid rising emergency demand

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is facing mounting pressure on its bed capacity, with officials urging families to promptly collect discharged patients as demand for emergency care continues to climb.

In a notice issued Tuesday, the hospital said delays in collecting patients who have been medically cleared for discharge are limiting its ability to admit critically ill cases from the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department.

A number of patients remain in hospital beds despite no longer requiring inpatient care, largely due to transportation or family arrangements not being finalised — a situation the QEH warned is directly affecting patient flow.

“At the same time, the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department is experiencing increased demand, with a significant number of critically ill patients requiring urgent assessment, treatment and admission,” the statement said.

Those pressures are now being felt across the hospital, contributing to longer wait times and bottlenecks in care.

While the QEH did not outline specific drivers behind the surge, recent weeks have seen a series of violent incidents across the island, with multiple patients requiring treatment for gunshot and stabbing injuries — cases that typically demand urgent, resource-intensive care.

Against that backdrop, the hospital said its teams are actively working with families and caregivers to facilitate faster discharges and free up space for those in need of immediate attention.

The QEH stressed that patients with life-threatening conditions will continue to receive priority care, but acknowledged that those with less urgent complaints may face delays given the current demand on services.

Members of the public unsure whether their condition requires emergency treatment are being encouraged to contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at 536-4800, available daily from 8 a.m. to midnight via regular or WhatsApp calls.

For non-emergency concerns, the hospital is also advising patients to seek care at the Winston Scott Polyclinic’s 24-hour clinic or consult private physicians where possible.

As pressure builds, officials are again appealing to families to collect discharged patients as soon as possible, noting that timely pick-ups are critical to ensuring beds are available for those whose conditions cannot wait.