ACCIDENT and Emergency department doctors at the SMC say it is becoming impossible for them to properly treat the large numbers of patients turning up at the hospital.
They say around 1,200 patients, who continue to visit the department every day, are clogging the system.
“We can easily misdiagnose a critically-ill patient as we try and cope with those who do not need emergency treatment,” said a doctor, who didn’t want to be named.
He said seven out of 10 patients who come to the department should have gone to the health centre instead.
Sources said nearly 1,000 patients had been seen at the department from 7am till 5pm yesterday.
No one from the Health Ministry could be reached for comment yesterday.
However, department chairman Dr Jassim Al Mehza had earlier said the huge rush at the department should be avoided “in the interest of saving precious lives”.
He said doctors were being overburdened and had to cope with increased stress.
The only solution was to create awareness among patients they needed to come to the hospital only if it was very necessary, said Dr Al Mehza.
Gulf Daily