Nurses call for solutions as patients wait hours for beds
(File picture)
The union representing nurses at the Emergency Department of Mater Dei Hospital has called for an explanation and solutions from the authorities, saying patients were still waiting for hours in the corridors of the department.
The union recalled that it had complained about the situation before, but nothing tangible had been achieved by the authorities, despite talks and promises to improve the situation.
It said that patients who were treated in the department and needed to be transferred to the wards were made to wait for hours in the corridors until beds were found for them.
The situation, it said, was far from ideal for nurses, as well as the patients.
The people, it said, deserved a clear explanation from the authorities, as well as talks followed by real action to ease the problem.
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42 Comments
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Kenneth Azzopardi
Jul 21st 2011, 17:22
This is how you spend 350 Million to create a state of the art hospital with less bed than the old St Lukes but more sucurity to guard the staff, more policmen in the emmergency department but we somehow forgot to mention that we also need doctors, nurses and other staff to man such a hospital.
Just try to pass on a complaint to the management and all you get is a blank wall from the security staff.
If this is what we have manged to achieve after millions have been spent then I would rather go back to St Lukes at lease we had service in the corridors when it was full.
M. Bezzina
Jul 21st 2011, 16:08
Diverting also from the heading one also must note how many nurses have been appointed or had been given promotion not in line with their nursing duties.It is a shame to see nurses on the computer system when we have IT personell now, plus more to keep in brief!!
Mr Dominic Chircop
Jul 21st 2011, 12:01
Mater Dei Hospital is indeed state of the art.
The service it provides could be termed state of the fart !
Marianne Tabone
Jul 21st 2011, 13:02
Ghandek ragun tghid li mhix haga tajba li l-pazjenti jistennew fil-kurituri biex jinghataw sodda. Imma almenu jkunu fi sptar. Ftit granet ilu fuq TV taljan semmew il-kaz ta' bniedem li mar l-isptar urgenti u baghtuh minn sptar ghall-iehor hames darbiet! Miet meta wasal fl-ahhar sptar. Jien naf kemm hu frustranti li pazjent ikun fil-kuritur imma thank God for small mercies! Almenu l-pazjent ikun moghti l-attenzjoni u f'xi hin imur f'ward! Ahjar minn vjaggi li jintemmu fil-mewt! Imma ghandna bzonn naraw x'jista' jsir biex is-sitwazzjoni tirranga. Dak il-hin pazjent l-anqas haga li jkun irid hu li jsib ruhu f'kuritur b'hafna nies ghaddejjin minn hdejh!! Action please.
guido cutajar
Jul 21st 2011, 17:47
Dominic, Jekk ghawn tlett persuni li jikkritikaw lil gvern ghal kull haga li jghamel, jien wiehed minnhom. Pero fejn jidhol l-isptar Mater Dei,ma naqbilx mieghek, veru li hemm din il problema tas sodod, pero nemmen li ahna mhux qeghedin nikkoperaw. Hemm kazi li bhal ma ghedt qabel, qeghedin nitfaw lil l-anzjani taghna u inhalluhom hemm ghal xejn. Jien personali kull darba li gejt bzonn tal l- isptar, dejjem sibt servizz ta aktar min state of the art, min meta tidhol sa kemm tohrog .plus il follow up. Naf li hemm il waiting list ta l-operazzjonijiet. Nemmen ukoll ( forsi zbaljat ) li parti mit tort huwa ta certi proffessuri, sabiex tiddejjaq tistenna u tmur ghand l-istess professur fil sptar privat, u thallas. BHAL ISSA GHAWN NUQQAS KBIR TA DEMM. JIEN NIXTIEQ NGHATI DEMMI KOLLU ( ghax meta kelli bzonn sibt) PERO MA NISTAX, GHAL RAGUNIJIET MEDICI. NIEXTIEQ NAPPELLA SABIEX MIN QEGHED JAQRA U B`SAHTU IMUR JGHAMEL L-AKBAR KARITA.......... Min qatt ma ta demm nghejdlu.....Wara li tghati id demm thossok kburi aktar min qatt qabel...ma tkunx tista tispjega il ferh li thoss. NAQRA KURAGG HBIEB.
M. Bezzina
Jul 22nd 2011, 06:09
Guido social cases in Mater dei is one of the major problem but its not the only one for sure.Season after season the gov is aware of the lack of beds and he is not doing anything or at least to make it difficult to decrease the social cases.
George Abela
Jul 21st 2011, 12:00
HI people of Malta you are not the only ones sufering from A & E problems I live in Stoke-on-Trent UK and we have the same problems if you are on facebook go on it I put up a front page article in our local paper THE SENTINEL it happened to me recently.
Joseph Borg
Jul 21st 2011, 11:58
Bhala ex infermier fl emergenza ghal hafna snin....nista nghid b wicci bil quddiem li l problema hija wahda cara kristall.
1) kellna diga din il problema St.Luke's morna go sptar sabih u lussuz li ghal xi raguni misterjuza minflok zidnilu is soddod, naqqasnijhom
2) Tlett kwarti tal managment huwa appuntat fuq kemm nafu nies u x kulur ingorru, hafna drabi nies mitfuwha f pozizzjonijiet li huma inkompetenti ghalijhom u li eventually jwasslu ghal decizjonijiet li jaghmlu aktar deni milli gid
3) Minflok pjanajna metodu ta kif ghandu jahdem mater dei....qbadna l istess sistemi li kienu jintuzaw St.Luke's u mexxejnijhom hemm, meta strutturalment il post huwa kompletament differenti
4) Pazjent li jkun l-emergenza jrid kwazi bilfors isirlu kollox hemmek meta facilment hafna mit testijiet jistaw isiru mis sala u pazjenti jistaw jistennew certi rizultati tad demm komdi fis soddha taghhom (meta jkun hemm!), Suppost inbniet ward gdida (observation ward) li l funzjoni taghha kellah tkun dik li zzomm pazjenti li qed jistennew testijiet jew rizultat, pero spiccat ward bhal ohrajn minhabba nuqqas ta spazju.
Dawn u ohrajn huma il problemi principali li hemm l emergenza, apparti kura primarja li hija medjokri plus hafna defensive medicine b hafna testijiet jittiehdu bhala rutina meta ma humiex klinikalment indikati....li eventually jsarrfu f certi admissions ta "osservazzjoni" li ma humiex necessarji.
Hafna tobba minhabba ragunijiet varji jippreferu jammettu pazjent irrelevanti ghandux bzonn jew le ...milli jiehdu responsabilta...forsi minhabba riperkussjonijiet legali, forsi minhabba nuqqas ta esperjenza u forsi minhabba nuqqas ta appogg f certi hinijiet min senior doctors....jew forsi sempliciment ghax gew maghlma hekk.
Eventually, ir-rizultat ta nuqqas ta soddod, tarbel kemm tarbel dak li semmejt jiena, jwasslu biss ghal risposta....bnejna sptar izghar mid demand li hawn. Suppost tejoretikament sptar ma ghandu jkun qatt mimli 100% tal capacity tieghu ghal ragunijiet ovvji.
Nistaqsi....x jigri kieku allahares qatt ikun hawn major disaster go dan il pajjiz li jirrikjedi ezempju 150 admission f daqqa?
U ftakru...sptar mimli daqs bajda...u dan huwa is-sajf........ara issa la tigi ix-xitwa!!
Ms M Sciberras
Jul 21st 2011, 12:48
prosit!
Michael Seychell
Jul 21st 2011, 17:16
Sur J.Borg - naqbel hafne ma dak li ghidt fit-tieni punt tieghek, u dan jista jigi kko0nfermat li ghal xi raguni poz\izzjonijiet gholjin qed jittiehdu minn persuni b'ghajnejn homor minn gvern b'ghajnejn blue, dan qed jigri ukoll f'postijiet ohra inklus fil-MEPA.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
Christina Pace
Jul 21st 2011, 11:49
Let me just comment on may people's impression that because you can physically fit another 3 beds easily in a 4-bed room it is a good solution. IT IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
A petient will not only need a bed for continued care. Them things attahced to the wall behind the bed (oxygen pipes, nurse beeper...)are required. There needs to be enough room for the patient to get in and out of bed and move around, and have visitores, not to mention any machines they may have to carry around for monitoring and that awful drip stand. The hospital is not a dormitory you can just pack with beds.
Besides the beds issue, more patients in one ward means more nurses on shift or risk being understaffed in an emergency rush. This is often not possible and it would also overcrown the ward, so please let the people who know what needs to be done discuss this them selves and stop throwing mindless suggestions at them like you know everything.
Ms S Micallef
Jul 21st 2011, 12:35
and whilst the people that know what needs to be done (who apparently either don't know or don't do anything about it because the situation is still disastrous) discuss, you might want to work on your spelling.
Ms S Micallef
Jul 21st 2011, 10:44
if people keep going to hospital for every little thing to avoid paying for a doctor or going to a clinic, the waiting time will keep increasing.
When will some of the Maltese understand that hospital is for emergencies only?
Christina Pace
Jul 21st 2011, 11:38
Ms Micallef, waiting for a bed implies you have already been to the GP and they referred you to emergency who decided to admit you for inpatient care.
You obviously don't know how it works which brings me to assume you must eithr be filthy rich, enough to pay out of pocket for private inpatient care. Even though I have medical insurance I can't always come up with the money if I had to be admitted and insurance in most cases only offers refund for the bill after it has been paid. Or that you are incredibly healthy and never ever needed to visit a clinic in which case you could share your secret for the benefit of the rest of us.
Joseph Borg
Jul 21st 2011, 12:12
in nies imorru l emergenza dirett ghar raguni li mhumiex moqdijja sew fil komunita. tlett kwarti tat tobba tal health centres ma humiex lesti jerfaw responsabilta u jirreferu kollox l emergenza allura n nies taghllmu u saru jirrikoru direttament l emergenza.
Llum min jista jhallas hawn fejn jista jiehu servizz fast u efficjenti fil privat kemm ghal kura primarja u kemm ghal kazijiet ta emergenza, sahansitra 24 siegha kuljum. Pero ftakar li mhux kulhadd jista jhallas. Il problema mhux il prezz tat tabib li fil privat gahx dak ivarja bejn 9 u 15 euros (li ma huma xejn) imma il kontijiet li jitilaw f kaz meta jkollok bzonn certi interventi u certa kura so ghal min ma jkollux insurance mhux dejjem jaffordja jirrikori ghal servizzi privati.
Naqbel mieghek li hemm numru ta nies li ghal kul cucata minflok imorru ghand il gp taghhom jew go private clinic iridu bilfors imorru l emergenza ...imma nasaigurak li dak in numru ma huwiex kbir u min jirrikori l emergenza b kazijiet simili ta li qed tghid inti hafna drabi gentilment jigi avzat li l kaz tieghu huma ta urgenza minima u facilment jista jinqeda jew ghand il GP tieghu, jew klinika privata jew go centru tas sahha......jigu avzati wkoll li hemm cans jaghmlu hinijiet twal jistennew jekk jibqaw l emergenza u most of the time dawn il nies jifhmuk u jirrikorru ghal postijiet li jkunu suggeriti lilhom biex jevitaw hafna hinijiet twal jistennew.
Francis Attard
Jul 21st 2011, 12:18
Meta l-haddiem jibda jiehu 500 Euro zieda fil-gimgha Ms Micallef.
Ms S Micallef
Jul 21st 2011, 12:31
oh please Christina Pace, i know how exactly how it works.
When i said clinics I was referring to the FREE clinics dotted around the island. People instead go straight to hospital, increasing waiting time and tiring staff unnecessarily.
As for the filthy rich part, it shocks me how everyone seems to have money for everything but not their health. Very few people are genuinely poor. The rest who claim they are poor have their priorities all wrong. Everyone seems to have money for cigarettes, fancy mobiles, BMWs imported from the UK (the latest fad), BUT alla jbierek we don't have €10-€15 to visit the GP. Come on!
And I won't even get into the issue of the elderly taking up beds at hospital instead of a home because they are abandoned by their familiies.
Mr FRANS H SAID
Jul 21st 2011, 12:32
Then there should be better service and control. Instead of a PIANOm build an annex to the emergency section to treat the non urget cases (sort of a local clinic). But you must be a CUC to come up with good solutions. Suppose a minister or one of the clan goes to emergency, will he wait, will his wife wait, will his mother in law wait. Will they be kept on a stretcher? Buy we pay the taxes and they get the increases
Mr Keith Davis
Jul 21st 2011, 10:30
I see nobody's consience from the authorities here in solving this problem !
Strangely the word 'conscience' comes up only when somone disagrees with the majority, but not in solving the peoples' needs and the country's crucial problems.
Mr L Debono
Jul 21st 2011, 10:15
not only talks, talks, talks .......
it's about time to act and to do something ......
we need some sort of real actions in this department...... when ??? only god knows !!
John Scerri
Jul 21st 2011, 10:01
I was admitted to Mater Dei through emergency 2 weeks ago.
Nurses and doctors care was outstanding .
They do the work which involves very long hours .
They sometimes have to cope with conflict situations as well .
YES ...The main problem is the waiting game. I have on different occasions experienced waiting between 3 and 12 hours max. There was always a justified reason and I do not blame anyone. More serious cases are given priority and this is the right policy.
True ....I needed to stay for observation for tests and treatment .
Yes the first night I was in the childrens' emergency ward corridor on a portable sort of very modern stretcher bed with remote controlled functions.
We were placed like formula one cars on both sides of the corridor .There were about 20 of us temporarily placed there . the night was quite peaceful considering this is a hospital .
Anyway , the morning came, nurses were always there throughout the night and day, Patients including myself were sent for their respective tests, MRI, ultrasound, CT scans etc.
Doctors came to visit in the afternnoon and ward placings and dismissals were allocated.
I was placed in a two bedded luxury a/c room for the evening and night with 5 star ensuite bathroom including shower and all. Very clean. A meal was served as i was settling down. The next morning by 9 i was dismissed after the doctor visited me .
In a way having such luxury is on the +side. But the waiting is a bit too long in the emergency section.
In cases where sudden outbrakes of illness occur I would suggest moving beds inside 2 and 4 bedded rooms to make space for the ones coming up who need to stay for short periods.
At one point stretchers and beds were running out- getting some from St Lukes would help.
Compared to what one would have paid had my visit been in a private hospital , i would rather spend some time waiting at Materdei .
The policy of A.B.C is used in emergency so no one should be worried of not being given priority if it was a life or death case.
Final note.
The hospital is a Gem ...Nursing staff , Paramedics, and Doctors in their vast majority are treasures and dedicted to their work and to the patient.
Lets take care of them and give them the job satisfaction they deserve.
Govt. PLease take action fast.
Mrs mary s
Jul 21st 2011, 11:26
It is good that you are patient and happy to wait long hours for medical treatment, but what about if you are in excruxiating pain and no one knows what is wrong, especially if it is your child. Sorry but the private hospital, St James knew what they were doing the minute they examined my child. If it means paying I am happy to pay to save my childs life.
John Scerri
Jul 21st 2011, 12:01
Mrs mary s I fully understand your concern .
It so happened that the evening I was at emergency2 weeks ago a hit and run child was rushed in and all attention was centered around him .
He was suffering from head injuries and bruises , severe pain and was immediatley given top priority , sent for head scans and given the necessary aid in the presence of his parents who stayed close monitoring .
As I stated in my comment , if there are critical cases they are always given top priority .
This is from my personal on site observations.
Mr Dominic Chircop
Jul 21st 2011, 09:39
Is it at all posible that those thirteen conscientious MP's do not feel any pangs of conscience on this lack of valuri ?
Or do valuri involve sex only ?
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jul 21st 2011, 09:19
The minister should engage some entertainers to keep the waiting queue occupied, we already have some in parliament and it works.
guido cutajar
Jul 21st 2011, 11:15
Lawrence...........Qeghdin jibzaw ghalihom ( entertainers ) ghal meta jifthu il parlament il gdid. Smajt li ghanke magicians ser jimpjegaw.
j brincat
Jul 21st 2011, 08:53
So queues are still the order of the day at State of the Art's Emergency Department!
(jb)
Claire Busuttil
Jul 21st 2011, 08:30
What a disgrace!!
guido cutajar
Jul 21st 2011, 08:22
Soluzzjoni wahda hemm..........Minghajr ma niggenera. Ma inhallux lil l-anzjani taghna fl`isptar ghal xejn, sabiex ma niehdux ir responsabbilta taghhom, jew biex niffrankaw li noghqodu nixelu l A.C. Kieku nikkmanda jien, fejn nara kazi cari, ta dan l-abbuz, inzommilhom xi haga mil pensjoni. Ma ninsewx ukoll, li jista ikun il kas li certi proffessuri ( min ghajr ma niggenera ) ikun jaqblilhom li l-isptar ikun iffullat. Halli ikollhom hafna x`jghamlu.
Noel Mifsud
Jul 21st 2011, 08:17
L ahhar li mort emergenza sa 8 30 kont lets prsoet lin nurses u it tobba u zammni gurnata u tellani fis sala at 4 pm ghax ma kienx hemm sodod. Il bqija hadu hsiebi u proset. Pero nixtieq nghid li ili minn Ottubru 2010 busrean biex namel operazzjoni tal ftuq. Meta kellna lil St Lukes wara 3 months ghamilta issa fi sptar state of the art bhal dan ili 9 months u ghad ma ghandix data ghal meta se namilla. Mhux nikkritika imma nahseb l problemi li kien hemm St LUkes hadnihom maghna MD u komplew jikbru. Nisperas li ma numx nistenna hafna izjed thx.
Mr Albert Dimech
Jul 21st 2011, 08:12
State-of-the-air mismanagement and a chaos, a ferrari at the hands of a novice driver.
Francis Attard
Jul 21st 2011, 08:01
Dawn l-affarijiet jistaw biss jissolvew meta jibda jkollna "Ministri Barranin" ghax "Ic-Cwiec Maltin" m'ghandhomx hila.
Melvin Tonna
Jul 21st 2011, 10:38
Bravu Sur Attard. Ma stajtx ghamilt kumment ahjar minn hekk. Ahna l-maltin ma ninqalghu ghal xejn.
Claire Busuttil
Jul 21st 2011, 10:56
ma naqbel mieghek xejn sur Attard, hawn Maltin Kapaci........
Claire Busuttil
Jul 21st 2011, 11:45
kemm ghandkom stima baxxa taghkom u ta pajjizkom, ......imbilli l awtoritajiet koncernati ma ghandhomx hila, ma ifisirx li il poplu kollu hekk......sejjrin zball
M. Bezzina
Jul 21st 2011, 13:19
Sinjura Busuttil ma anhsibx li fhimtu il kumment li amel jew amlet Francis ax dik uzat il frazi li uza l ministru cuc MAlti li ghadna.....ghax fid dinja kif tistma in nies , in nies jistmaw lilek!!!!!!!!!
Mr E.M. Darmanin
Jul 21st 2011, 07:48
A 'State of the Art' hospital, where however patients has to wait for hours in the corridors of the department. Similarly we have 'State of the Art' buses, however one has to wait for hours to reach the destination intended. Looks like its becoming a custom.
Joseph Borg
Jul 21st 2011, 07:48
any valid suggestions Mr Giov De Martino! Since you re the expert on Mater Dei and the spokes person for the govt!
M. Bezzina
Jul 21st 2011, 13:17
Is sur Giovann De MArtino kollox sabih jara taht dal gvern...taht il Labour tahseb li kien se jmut bil guh taqra l messagi tijaw!!Jien sur Giovann jista jkun ahmar u jistqa jkun blu ax is sabih nghidu u l ikrah ukoll u b wicci min quddiem nghid li l vot tijej it 2 tajtulhom u mhux kwistjoni ta principju imma kwistjoni ta kemm nara gid fil pajjiz fil 5snin li l gvern ikun elett u mhux x gara 40sena ilu fi zmien Mintoff.
Mr Keith Davis
Jul 21st 2011, 07:47
It is very sad for the patients, nurses and families to see such a big hospital built without proper planning, and leaving matters worsen to an extent where the situation rises to public domain.
The authorities need to be ashamed.
Mr W Cassar
Jul 21st 2011, 07:44
All that money spent and we have the same problems as St Lukes.... and no resignations for it, no wonder things never improve here.
Ray Pace
Jul 21st 2011, 07:42
True....I waited for two days on a stretcher at the emmergency and was never transferred to a ward. The hospital authorities are well aware of the situation and doing their best but all involved should see to alleviate this problem. There are other bottlenecks leading to people waiting in the corridor before being transferred and not just bed shortages and this from experience.