WATCH: Hospital Leaders Say New Nurses Will Reduce Emergency Room Wait Times

Hospital Leaders Say New Nurses Will Reduce ER Wait Times

Hospital leaders say the arrival of additional nurses is expected to ease pressure in the emergency department, reduce long wait times and improve the overall quality of care for patients seeking urgent treatment.

Senior officials at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre said chronic nursing shortages have strained emergency services, with limited staff often forced to manage high patient volumes while balancing multiple clinical demands.

During a recent media briefing, hospital administrators explained that staffing gaps have affected key emergency room functions, particularly triage — the process used to assess patients and prioritize care based on medical urgency. Without sufficient experienced nurses assigned to triage, patient flow has slowed, contributing to longer waits and overcrowding.

Health officials said incoming nurses, many with emergency room training and several years of experience, will help restore proper triage coverage and allow patients to be assessed and treated more efficiently. They said this is expected to improve patient outcomes and reduce frustration for families waiting in the emergency department.

Hospital leaders also pointed to the toll that prolonged staff shortages have taken on local nurses, noting that burnout and fatigue can affect efficiency and increase the risk of errors. By expanding the nursing complement, officials said they expect reduced overtime, improved morale and more consistent care delivery.

The additional staffing is also expected to free up senior nurses who have been covering frontline shifts while managing administrative responsibilities. Officials said this will allow for better supervision, smoother coordination across departments and more effective use of hospital resources.

While acknowledging that emergency department congestion is influenced by several factors, hospital leaders said strengthening nursing support is a critical step toward improving wait times and restoring public confidence in emergency care. They said the measures form part of a wider effort to stabilize the health system while expanding the training of local nurses for the long term.

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