Call for calm after concerns over hospitals diverting patients
The diverting of patients is not an unusual practice, says medical professional following recent concerns
Online concern earlier this week over reports of hospitals diverting patients were ‘normal’ and no cause for alarm.
That’s the word from the medical profession, who explained the situation to the ZO.
Netcare The Bay Hospital general manager Deon Smith confirmed this on Wednesday.
“While we were not on divert, from time to time, when a particular discipline has a temporary lack of available beds or higher level of care units are nearing capacity, it is not unusual for a particular service at the hospital to be placed on divert for a limited period – usually up to 12 hours,” said Smith.
“As part of responsible healthcare resource planning, the emergency medical services and referring facilities in the area are made aware when a hospital is on divert so patients requiring the affected service can be attended to as soon as possible at another hospital with the appropriate level of care available.
“Even at times when the hospital is on divert, the emergency department will always attend to any potentially life-threatening emergencies, and patients are then stabilised before being transferred to another suitable facility if required,” he said.
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