News – Val-de-Travers – RHNe overload: invitation to turn to other alternatives for non-vital cases and obligation to wear a mask

​The Neuchâtel Hospital Network (RHNe) is facing an exceptional overload of its bed system. To limit waiting times at the emergency services at the La Chaux-de-Fonds and Neuchâtel sites, the cantonal health authorities invite people suffering from non-vital pathologies to turn to other existing solutions in the canton. In order to avoid further aggravating the situation, the RHNe is making it compulsory from this Wednesday, January 8, to wear a mask in treatment areas.

The emergency services of the Neuchâtel Hospital Network (RHNe) are overloaded, in particular due to the flu epidemic, the spread of respiratory viruses and an increase in trauma cases. This massive influx of people requiring hospitalization leads to a saturation of the system in beds, with more than 430 patients hospitalized on the various sites of the institution, compared to 340 to 360 in a normal situation.

Avoid emergency room wait times

In this context of very high numbers, the RHNe emergency department gives priority to receiving serious cases. As a result, patients suffering from benign pathologies must wait longer before being treated. Faced with this situation, the cantonal health authorities are asking the population to turn to other solutions in the event of non-vital situations.

Several options are possible:

Consult the occupancy rate in real time

The Health Authorities point out that the medical and healthcare teams at the RHNe emergency centers are fully mobilized to respond to vital emergencies. Patients wishing to go there can consult their attendance via the RHNe website. As a reminder, RHNe emergency staff apply a graduated sorting system which allows the seriousness of situations to be quickly determined in order to ensure that the most urgent cases are treated as a priority. Patients are thus classified on a scale of 1 to 4, ranging from extreme emergency to less pressing situation.

Another measure taken to limit the risks of virus contagion: the College of Directors of RHNe is introducing the obligation to wear a mask in care areas (visitors and employees of the institution) as of Wednesday, January 8. ).