Emergency centres in every governorate soon

Manama :

Authorities are considering the establishment of emergency centres in every governorate of the Kingdom.   The measure is to ensure quick public access to emergency health services.

Currently, there are three health centres that provide emergency services for minor cases around the clock, one is in Muharraq and two are in the Southern Governorate. Two more health centres that will work around the clock would soon become operational.

The Ministry of Health revealed that it along with the Supreme Council for Health is considering opening emergency centres in each governorate of Bahrain. The Ministry’s announcement came after a parliamentary query into the matter.

A proposal was earlier submitted by a group of five MPs to establish emergency centres in Bahrain. The proposal aims to improve the quality of health care services in the country and to reduce the burden on Salmaniya Medical Complex. There have been complaints of long waiting times at the Salmaniya Medical Complex.

According to sources, the accident and emergency section at the Salmaniya Medical Complex is under immense pressure due to a large number of cases it receives every day.  Meanwhile, a number of measures are being taken to ensure the reduction in waiting time for patients at the accident and emergency section of SMC.  The ministry is updating its system in line with the system used in the UK called the Manchester Triage System, the minister said.

The new system will adopt a more efficient mechanism in categorising patients received at the section based on the severity of the injuries/illnesses of the patients, it is learned. Establishment of emergency centres will further improve the situation of the emergency department of Bahrain’s largest hospital.