Ghana doctor coins 'No Bed Syndrome' impacting global hospital care
Dr. Joseph Bonney of Ghana's Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital created the term 'No Bed Syndrome' in 2017 to describe hospital overcrowding and patient admission delays. His research showed the emergency department handled about 90 patients daily, with demand exceeding bed capacity. This led to patient dissatisfaction and increased workload for staff. The concept, first published in academic liter...
Dr. Joseph Bonney, an emergency medicine specialist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, first used the term 'No Bed Syndrome' in 2017. He published this term in the journal Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. This term describes too many patients and not enough hospital beds. It also means delays in getting patients admitted to the hospital.
Dr. Bonney's research in the hospital's emergency department showed the problem. This department saw about 90 patients every day. Demand for beds was highest in the mornings and evenings. But, the number of patients admitted and discharged did not match this demand. Patients waited a long time for beds. This caused problems with patient care.
Hospital staff reported more work and unhappy patients. Some patients could not be admitted. The study said this was a mismatch. There was more demand for hospital beds than available beds.
The term became well-known in 2018. This was after a person died because they could not get into a hospital. 'No Bed Syndrome' is now used globally. It helps discuss problems with hospital buildings and how emergency care is given.
Source: StatsGH — Ghana's data-driven news platform