Patients placed in beds in hospital corridors and hallways have been a “persistent problem” in Reykjavík over the past few decades according to the newly published annual report of the Directorate of Health.
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RÚV, quoted the Medical Director of Health, Sigurdur Gudmundsson, who said that in some cases resuscitation teams had had difficulty in navigating past beds in hospital hallways.
On average, 60 patients were placed in beds in the hallways and corridors of Landspitali-Haskolasjukrahus (National University Hospital, LSH) each month of last year. The Medical Director said the problem was caused by the inability of the hospital to discharge patients which in turn was caused by the lack of places in nursing homes for the elderly. The Medical Director also said that on average between 70 and 100 patients were to be found at LSH who would be more appropriately cared for elsewhere.
