There is ongoing pressure on bed availability in the hospital and as a result patients are facing long delays being admitted from the Emergency Department to a bed on a ward.

There are currently 19 patients on trolleys in the Emergency Department waiting for a bed.

The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.

All available beds in the hospital are in use including an additional 20 escalation beds.

A spokeperson for the Hospital said, “The hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer.

“If your health problem is not an emergency you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the NoWDOC GP out of hours service, in the first instance.

“As part of the hospital’s COVID-19 measures, we ask that patients wait in the Emergency Department alone to help maintain social distancing.

“A companion will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances. This is to minimise the risk of infection and to keep everyone safe. We remind patients to please wear a face mask when in the Emergency Department and to comply with any COVID-19 screening processes.”