The situation regarding the Covid-19 spread has improved slightly and there are fewer of these patients in hospitals. Therefore, it is important for hospitals to deal with other problems that patients face, Kreicberga said. The Emergency Medical Centre of Stradiņš Hospital is facing a recent influx of patients and is currently overloaded.
“I would not like to say that we will not be able to provide this assistance. But at Stradiņš Hospital, the Emergency Medical Center was constructed for 40 patients a day. [A couple of years ago] the number was 140-160. But there are more than 200 each day for several weeks now. Of course, we have increased this capacity, but spatial and human resources are as many as they are,” said Kreicberga.
The reason for this could be that during the state of emergency, chronic patients postponed visits to doctors for fear of becoming infected by going to the hospital. The hospital spokeswoman also said that many patients did not rush to go to the medics because of their high load.
“The longer we wait with our problems, the more we will load this medical service. Consequently, if there are any health problems, my call would be to address [the doctor] as early as possible,” Kreicberga said.
In order not to increase the ranks of patients in emergency rooms, Kreicberga urged residents to think about their health and to turn to family doctors in time.
Kreicberga also said that, as the official state of emergency in the healthcare system has been lifted, relatives would be allowed to visit patients again in the hospital. This will not apply Covid-19 positive and intensive treatment patients and people with reduced immunity. Visitors must present a Covid-19 certificate.