Hospital beds full

10 January 2008 – For a couple of days now all the beds in Antwerp University Hospital have been full. Even in the A&E department there isn’t any more room. The situation is little better elsewhere.

Operations that have been planned can proceed and the A&E department is staying open.

The University Hospital is using 15 extra beds in rooms that are usually not used for patients.

The department head says it’s the first time in his 20 year career that this happens. Usually hospitals can exchange patients, but they are full too.

Elsewhere it’s more of the same. The big demand for beds is due to a surge in lung and throat infections

In Leuven (Flemish Brabant) the old folks department is full too and other solutions need to be found.

The authorities have now asked for non-urgent operations to be postponed.