Juan Ameen
Nurses shortage at Mater Dei ‘contributing’ to long waiting time
Elderly patients needing specialised medical care were blocking hospital beds, leading to a long wait for beds at the emergency ward, Health Minister Joe Cassar said yesterday.
“Unfortunately, there are many elderly people who are taking up beds in hospital because they have nowhere else to go,” he said.
Dr Cassar was reacting to a statement by the newly-set up Emergency Nurses Union, which criticised the long wait – of up to six hours, it claimed – for patients to be given a bed in the emergency department.
He was concerned about the long waiting periods but pointed out that people also required more specialised care and homes that could cater for their needs. Such people could not go to residential homes, such as the one in Mellieħa, for example, because it was not equipped to provide the specialised care they would need.
Dr Cassar said the long waiting time was also related to a shortage of nurses, especially those specialised to take care of the elderly, and unequipped health centres.
He argued that the backlog worsened because of the nurses’ shortage and pointed out that many cases which could be dealt with at health centres were ending up at the main hospital, exacerbating the problem. The government took one step to improving the Mosta health centre yesterday as Dr Cassar launched a digital X-ray machine that will save patients the hassle of waiting at Mater Dei Hospital.
“This is another step in improving Malta’s primary healthcare system,” he said.
Any X-ray taken at the centre will be immediately sent through an electronic system to the radiology department at Mater Dei where it will be seen by a bone specialist.
The technique uses the picture archiving and communication system – Pacs – and allows the radiologist at hospital and the health centre to both view the X-ray and discuss a diagnosis, and treatment if necessary, a few minutes after it was taken.
The system, costing about €350,000, also eliminates the need for X-rays to be carried to Mater Dei.
An elderly woman who fell down the stairs two days ago and walked into the health centre for an X-ray accepted to showcase how the system worked.
“I’m not happy you fell down the stairs. You have to be more careful,” Dr Cassar jokingly admonished the patient as she prepared to use the machine.
The health authorities decided to set up the system at the Mosta health centre because it is one of the busiest – mainly because many people move to the Buġibba and Qawra in summer – and remains open 24 hours.
The digital X-ray service will operate for 12 hours, from 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., and eventually will be extended to another two health centres.
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maria aquilina
Aug 24th 2010, 00:49
Nowadays people are living longer.So if an elderly man/woman falls ill and needs specialised care,it does not mean that she is a social case.She/he must be treated and after if she needs rehabilitation she must be sent for rehabilitation.Dear Minister stop blaming the old people for the shortage of beds.There are not enough beds at Mater Dei to cater for the whole population.At St.Lukes we used to put extra beds in the corridors.Here at Mater Dei this cannot be done.It is a case of bad planning.The problemis going to remain there even if the number of nurses increases.The probem is NO BEDS.I would suggest that if the government buys St.Philip's Hospital he turns it either into a Children'.s hospital or Maternity Hospital.In that way some wards will be freed and used according to the needs e.g. Surgical or medical wards.
M.Bezzina
Aug 21st 2010, 08:10
Unfortunately, there are many elderly people who are taking up beds in hospital because they have nowhere else to go,” he said.
I am very happy to see that the minister sustained what I said in this article titled ''Minister reacts to complaints on hospital overcrowding''
Joseph Calleja
Aug 20th 2010, 16:00
"Elderly patients needing specialised medical care were blocking hospital beds, leading to a long wait for beds at the emergency ward, Health Minister Joe Cassar said yesterday."
Dr Cassar the Emergency ward is for emergencies and not a place to jam in the elderly. Like always, It seems that we are trying to fit 5 litres of water in a one litre can. Many will tell you that a lot of patients do not belong in the hospital and the doctors have to make that decision.
Mater Dei is a hospital for sick people and should not be used as a convenience or as a home for the elderly. St Lukes Hospital is still sitting there empty.Why not turn the whole place into a clinic or if we have to, turn this old hospital into a home for the elderly. Mater Dei cannot take care of over 400,000 people. It will be beneficial to spend the money to renovate St Luke Hospital and alleviate the load at Mater Dei. If a shortage of nurses is the cause for long delays, then HIRE MORE NURSES and stop blaming the problem on the elderly.
Paul Borg
Aug 20th 2010, 12:22
Although I agree that there is a shortage of nurses, mismanagement is the real problem. I cannot understand how Nurses, after years of training, are being let doing other duties than nursing duties. For example in Health Centres and Out Patients Dept., you can clearly observe Nurses doing duties such as handling of files, fixing appointments and gathering data to be inserted in patients files. Such duties can be easily done by other grades such as Health Assistants, Nursing Aides or Clerks. I am aware that certain Health Assistants and Nursing Aides even out-perform Staff Nurses doing such work. Re-assigning Nurses in wards and other areas closer to the patient’s need will definitely help ease this critical situation and also will help other Nursing Colleagues to cope with the stress they are facing.
lgalea
Aug 20th 2010, 10:17
"He was concerned about the long waiting periods but pointed out that people also required more specialised care and homes that could cater for their needs."
So what is preventing the government from refurbishing St Lukes and using it a an old peoples home?
"Dr Cassar said the long waiting time was also related to a shortage of nurses, especially those specialised to take care of the elderly, and unequipped health centres."
So why are the newly graduated nurses still registering for employment who would then allow some nurses to specialize on old peoples care? Who is responsible for equipping the health centres?
P.Cassar
Aug 20th 2010, 09:39
NOW WE HAVE IT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
A CABINET MINISTER..........AFTER TWENTY YEARS OF PN AMINISTATION...............ADMITTING THAT...............................IN A SUPPOSEDLY STATE OF THE ART HOSPITAL, THERE ARE:
NOT ENOUGH NURSES
SOCIAL CASES (WITH NO OLD PEOPLE HOMES TO GO TO)
NO ENOUGH BEDS
NOT ENOUGH MEDICINES
EXTREMELY LONG WAITING LISTS
....................
....................
HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY RESIGNATION IN THESE TWENTY YEARS ???????????????