The management of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has temporarily halted new emergency admissions after its Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre became overwhelmed with patients, exceeding its intended capacity.

The hospital announced that the facility, which was designed to accommodate 37 patients, is currently handling far more than it was built for, raising concerns about its ability to safely provide care to critically ill patients.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 2 signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Kwame Frimpong, KATH disclosed that 61 patients are currently admitted across its Orange, Yellow and Red critical wards, with an additional 34 patients waiting for admission.

The hospital said the surge in cases has left the A&E Centre full and overflowing, making it impossible to accommodate new emergency cases over the next 24 hours.

As a result, members of the public requiring emergency medical attention have been advised to seek care at other hospitals within the Ashanti Region while efforts are made to ease congestion at the facility.

According to the statement, the decision to temporarily suspend admissions was taken to prevent further strain on the centre and ensure that patients already receiving treatment are not put at additional risk.

KATH further indicated that it is engaging the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate to coordinate support from other health facilities in the region as it works to address the situation.

Management assured the public that emergency physician specialists and other medical personnel are working around the clock to manage the influx of patients and that the situation is being reviewed regularly.

The hospital expressed hope that normal admissions would resume within the next day or two once pressure on the facility subsides.

“The current situation is being periodically reviewed as our emergency physician specialists and other medical staff are doing their best to manage the surge in cases at the centre and new admissions will be allowed as soon as things get under control”, the statement concluded.