National Taiwan University Hospital emergency lobby clears as patient visits drop

Following public scrutiny regarding an incident where an elderly patient died after waiting 12 days for a hospital bed, the emergency room lobby at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) has seen a rare clearing of waiting patients. NTUH President Yu Chung-jen stated that the daily influx of emergency patients has dropped from over 300 to approximately 250. He attributed this decrease to spontaneous adjustments in patient behavior rather than specific hospital interventions, noting a strong media effect.

Yu emphasized the importance of tiered medical care, suggesting that patients with less critical needs should utilize local hospitals rather than medical centers. While the number of patients has decreased, the complexity and intensity of care required have risen due to an aging population. To address bed shortages, NTUH plans to implement centralized hospital bed management and is working to establish a 20-bed integrated internal and surgical ward, expected to open by the end of the year.

To improve patient flow, the hospital is seeking assistance from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to facilitate smoother transfers to other facilities. Yu noted that addressing emergency room congestion requires national-level systemic changes to ensure patients are directed to the appropriate level of medical care.