🏥 Cayman Islands Hospital struggles with population surge

The Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town is grappling with the effects of a rapidly growing population. The relentless rise in the headcount is placing a strain on all of the country's infrastructure, including the government hospital. Officials have reported an "increase in patient demand" for beds in recent months. They are implementing short- to medium-term strategies to increase capacity, such as expanding the Medical and Surgical wards by 25%, expanding Treatment Bays in the Accident and Emergency Department by 33%, and converting the Ambulatory Care Unit to a '23-hour ward'. 🏥

The hospital management team has also relocated administrative staff to Citrus Grove to make way for bed expansion plans. The construction of the new Ambulatory Care Unit is set to begin this month, and Phase 2 of the A&E expansion programme is due to start early next year. In the meantime, a discharge lounge has been created for patients awaiting pickup, and rooms are being prepared for the next admission. The hospital is also working with other government agencies to reserve hospital beds for patients who need them. 🚑

Other measures to reduce pressure on the hospital include a courtesy transportation service to take patients home more quickly following discharge and an expansion of home visits. The hospital is also focusing on preventative and well-care efforts to reduce the need for hospitalisation. These measures are intended to buy time while broader infrastructure plans are pursued to meet the needs of the growing population. The strain on the hospital follows reports that almost all government schools are now completely full, and there are stresses on the road network and a shortage of affordable housing. 🏠