Isle of Wight Hospital Buckling Under Heatwave Pressure
St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight is struggling to cope with a flood of heatwave patients. Its A&E department has seen an extra 50 people every single day, as soaring temperatures take their toll.
Heatstroke and Dehydration Surge
Most of the influx are suffering from heatstroke or dehydration. To tackle the demand, the Newport hospital has opened 15 extra beds on top of its usual 244. The heat isn’t showing any signs of letting up either.
Top NHS Boss Urges Caution
Maggie Oldham, chief executive of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, warned the public to take care: “We really need people to be careful and take care of themselves.”
- Wear suncream
- Stay out of the sun where possible
- Don’t forget a hat
Temperatures are expected to stay above 20°C until Thursday, so caution is essential.
Simple Steps Could Prevent Hospital Visits
“Patients are coming in and being put on a drip for a day but if they had stayed hydrated, it could have easily been prevented,” said Mrs Oldham. “No one wants to spend their time on holiday waiting in hospital for treatment.”
Visitors are advised to ring 111 or register as a temporary patient with a local GP to avoid clogging up the hospital.
