The Isle of Wight community is being asked to support local health services as the number of patients needing urgent and emergency care has reached peak levels.
People are having a long wait to be seen in the Emergency Department at St Mary’s Hospital and the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service is responding to a high number of 999 and 111 calls. Delays in being able to transfer people to emergency care is contributing to pressure across the Island’s health and care system.
The Trust is calling on the local community to help the situation by taking their relatives or friends home from the hospital as soon as they are declared ready to leave and to provide care and support from home if they can.
People are being reminded to visit 111 online or speak to a pharmacist, GP or practice nurse in the first instance for support with minor conditions that do not require hospital treatment.
Victoria Lauchlan, Chief Operating Officer at the Trust said:
“For people attending our Emergency Department at the moment we are really sorry that they are having to wait some time to be seen. Our teams are working around the clock and together with our partners, we are doing all we can to support people to leave hospital as soon as they are ready but we need help.
“If you have a relative or loved one in hospital please speak to staff on the ward about how you can help them to leave hospital and if you are able to support them at home for a short time until a plan for their ongoing care is in place.
“As soon as a person is medically ready to leave hospital, they should be discharged to their place of residence. Every time one patient leaves the hospital it helps another person move through the hospital to ensure they get the care they need. This means the Emergency Department is free for those that need lifesaving care, and ambulances are able to quickly return to the community to provide emergency support to people.”
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We had as far as I remember at least two other smaller hospitals on the island there was an outcry when they closed and now the main hospital cannot cope anymore. Enough said . And yet the island is becoming more and more occupied people being employed from abroad and the medical resources are getting smaller and smaller. Rushing people out of hospital is not the overall answer we need another hospital to open up….but then we start getting the questions of where the staff will come from…there’s just no answer
I quite agree with you the island. I’m sure one of the decaying hotels all around could be put to use so much of an eyesore, a walk-in centre like they have on the mainland, but no councils we rather build houses.i know there are houses needed as renting has got so expensive. Maybe build affordable accommodation for NHS workers who help us. Roads are unable to cope with traffic now.
And yet the dopey council agree to more houses!
They were saying the same thing in 2006. I sat in A@E for 8 hours that night. The NHS has never been fit for purpose. My elder brother died as a result of their negligence back in the 1960’s. He lived to the grand old age of a few months.
Perhaps if their staff stopped going on strike at the drop of a hat and were not such keen clock-watchers things might improve.
The Coucil has to stand up to the government about building any more properties here. We cannot cope with the amount of people here. Usual stuff. Dentist, Doctors, Schools and hospital.
The actual structure for the elderly and special needs people are disgusting. The people in this area are more than useless.
I wonder if Councilor Jordon had a child that was disabled or needed help that things might change.
The whole system is not fit for purpose and if anyone from that department had any care for people they would stand up and be honest.
They won’t, as they just take the money and run, like most these days.
I hope you realise what damage you are doing to the children and their parent/s. Early Intervention rather than trying to fix after the event.
Somebody on these stupid boards who never meet thse children, should be ashamed of themselves along with the Social services, who are useless and pointless inwhat they do on this area.
I wonder if Council leader Jordon used the hospital recently. Answer no, he went private! Says it all.
There were over 350 elderly care beds available on the island but the wards were closed and most turned into offices then they whine about shortage of beds