The Ministry of Health and Wellness is urgently appealing to family members, relatives, guardians and caregivers to collect their family member or loved one who has been medically cleared for discharge but remain in public hospitals.

In a press release, the ministry said these patients, many of whom no longer require acute medical care, are now classified as social cases.

According to Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, “Their continued stay in hospitals is placing additional pressure on an already constrained public health system and, in some instances, occupying critical hospital beds that are needed for persons who are acutely ill and require admission and medical treatment.