By Chantalé Fletcher
OVER the last 13 days, there has been a decline in occupancy in the parallel healthcare system. The current occupancy rate was under 40%.
This was revealed by Principal Medical Officer, Institutions, Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards at the Ministry of Health virtual press conference on Wednesday.
She said on December 23, 2021, there was a peak occupancy of 84% in the parallel healthcare system, which was well above the critical threshold of 75%.
Dr Abdool-Richards said, “We were managing almost 1,000 persons on that particular day across the accident and emergency departments and the parallel healthcare facility hospitals.
“Since then we have noticed a gradual but consistent decline in overall occupancy, and over the last 13 days, we have noted and confirmed the occupancy is now under 40%.”
Occupancy levels in hospitals
On Wednesday morning overall occupancy across the three levels of care was 30%.
Dr Abdool-Richards said, “This was the lowest overall occupancy since early April 2021 when the rolling average was significantly less, possibly under 200 during that time period.”
As of 8 am on Wednesday, the total number of patients in the parallel healthcare system stood at 270.
She added that 225 were in the hospitals which treated the severely and critically ill patients, and 45 at the step-down facilities to treat recovering patients.
Dr Abdool-Richards said, “This was one of the lowest numbers of patients being treated since the May 2021 wave.”
Breakdown at ward level hospitals
She said, “This morning, our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) occupancy was at 34%. Twenty-seven out of 80 available beds are currently occupied.
“In our High Dependency Units (HDU) 30% of beds are occupied while 28% of beds are occupied on the wards.”
She explained the current occupancy indicated three out of ten beds in the system currently occupied.
Dr Abdool-Richards made reference to the A&E departments where a similar and consistent trend had been noted over the same period.
“This morning there are 29 patients being managed for Covid-19 and awaiting transfer, of those there are no ICU patients which was a significant improvement given the status from October to December 2021.”
Dr Abdool-Richards continued to urge persons to get vaccinated to help secure those vulnerable in the population.
Her advice to the nation was to seek early medical attention for Covid-19 rather than late, as this could worsen their prognosis.
Below shows occupancy rates in the parallel healthcare facilities:
|
Date |
March 2, 2022 |
|
Total Occupancy |
30% |
|
Trinidad |
34% |
|
Tobago |
6% |
|
Wards |
Percentages |
|
Trinidad ward |
29% |
|
Tobago ward |
33% |
|
ICU |
6% |
|
Trinidad ICU |
38% |
|
Tobago ICU |
0% |
|
HDU |
39% |
|
Trinidad HDU |
39% |
|
Trinidad Hospital |
35% |
|
Trinidad Step-down |
23% |
|
Hospitalisation rate |
4% |
|
Facilities |
March 2, 2022 |
|
Caura |
41% |
|
CMMF |
68% |
|
AGH |
51% |
|
ALH |
49% |
|
St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital |
35% |
|
Tobago |
6% |
|
Point Fortin |
0% |
|
SJMC |
52% |
|
UTT |
2% |
|
POS Field |
0% |
|
Area Hospital, Point Fortin |
76% |
|
Debe UWI |
14% |
|
Couva Field |
0% |
|
Tacarigua |
30% |
