Waiting lists for people requiring a hospital bed have climbed to record levels — because medically fit patients are not being discharged.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board confirmed today that 34 people were waiting for a bed at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital while more than 40 patients were medically fit but had not been discharged.

Acknowledging that the facility was under “growing pressure”, a BHB spokeswoman said that its alert level had been upgraded to 3, with 4 being the highest.

She added: “To increase capacity, with immediate effect, two of the larger Acute Care Wing inpatient unit rooms on each floor will take two medically fit for discharge patients per room. As there are three units, this will open up six additional rooms for patients needing acute care.

“The patients doubling up will be patients who are medically fit for discharge. The arrangement will impact visiting for these patients.

“They will be limited to one patient each at a time. Additional space in the Orthopaedic Fracture Clinic is already being used by four patients who are waiting for acute care beds, and available space in the children’s and maternity units are being used, as is created space in the long-term care units.

Acting Chief of Staff Anna Neilson-Williams said that the demand was putting additional pressure on hospital staff.

She added: “We have had to accelerate plans to increase capacity urgently today and this is helping us reduce numbers in the Emergency Department, but overall we are still under great pressure.

“We are grateful to our staff once again standing up to the plate. Our emergency team has been under extreme pressure for many months, and it is being felt in our other units as they accommodate more patients.”

Judy Richardson, the Chief of Nursing, said the overflow of patients was evident to anyone who attended the Emergency Department where patients were being cared for in corridors.

She said: “Our staff are caring for increasing numbers of people, and this is felt across clinical and support services.

“The changes we are making are helping us through this crisis, but in the long term we need solutions in the community for an increasing frail and elderly population.”

Preston Swan, the chief operating officer and acting chief executive, urged families who could do so to pick up relatives who were medically fit for discharge.

He said: “We understand that some people are very vulnerable and, while they are medically fit for discharge from an acute care unit, they may have care or medical needs that must be in place in the community before they can leave.

“However, this is not all patients. We implore people who can take their loved ones home to do so. Every bed we can make available makes a big difference. There are other unwell people needing care.”

Chikezie Dean Okereke, the Chief of Emergency, said that the department was facing “unprecedented capacity issues” and that people should go to KEMH only “if absolutely necessary”.

He said: “If you can wait to see your doctor, please call and book an appointment.

“People who experience significant trauma, have stroke symptoms, chest pains or serious bleeding must come to us for care — but we ask that people with general aches, pains or worries not requiring urgent attention to please contact their GP instead.

“If you do need to come, please be aware that if your symptoms are not critical, you are likely to have a long wait before you see a physician.”

Dr Okereke stated that owing to space constraints, patients were being advised to attend with only one carer.