Flu outbreak - public and private hospitals overflowing

The situation at Mater Dei is reportedly critical – not having any more space left to put patients, help was sought from the St James’ Group who however were of no assistance, being full up themselves.

Seasonal outbreaks of influenza that fall within the end-of-year period are not uncommon, but the persistent overcrowding that has plagued Mater Dei has escalated the problem to unmanageable levels. Merely days ago, the Emergency Nurses’ Union gave the health authorities until next week to sort out the overcrowding in hospital corridors – an issue that last year resulted in two patients receive cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in full view of patients and visitors around them.

The union's warning prompted a reaction by the health department, who maintained the seasonal increase in patient influx was normal. In reaction, the department added that influenza-like illness trebled over the past 15 days, adding that there were over 200 admissions of "very sick patients" between New Year’s Eve and 4 pm on Tuesday, with another 45 people admitted during the night.

Last night, the Health Department also issued a warning about the severe outbreak of influenza, urging patients to first contact their family doctor or health centre, and it was only the doctors who could refer people to hospital - should they find it necessary. It added that Mater Dei's Emergency Department would be treating those people with the most serious conditions first.

Emergency Nurses’ Union president John Zammit was reported as saying that the situation had got to a point where Emergency doctors and nurses had run out of stretchers upon which to receive and attend to new patients - as these were being used by admitted patients waiting in corridors for a ward bed to free up. He also said that two additional corridors had been opened since Tuesday had already been filled-up.

Mater Dei’s overcrowding comes as no news. Soon after opening its doors to the public its lower bed capacity – compared to St Luke’s Hospital (Mater Dei’s predecessor) - was quickly painfully apparent, resulting in just-admitted patients having to wait around in the Emergency Department corridors for a bed to free up in the wards.