Northern Samar Prov’l Hospital limits referrals amid bed shortage
TACLOBAN CITY—The Northern Samar Provincial Hospital (NSPH) has exceeded its maximum bed capacity, prompting the provincial government-run facility to ask partner health facilities and the public to limit referrals to patients needing specialized or higher-level medical care.
In a public advisory on Thursday, NSPH reported 372 total bed admissions, compared with its 302 implementing beds and the 150-bed capacity authorized by the Department of Health (DOH).
The hospital, which is based in Catarman, said it currently has no available beds for additional admissions as it continues to operate beyond its maximum capacity.
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NSPH appealed to partner hospitals, health facilities, and the public to refer or bring to the provincial hospital only patients who need specialized or higher-level care services.
It also asked referring facilities to stabilize patients before dispatch to NSPH to help ensure patients arrive in a condition suitable for transport and that available resources can be prioritized for critical and emergency cases.
The hospital said the cooperation of referring facilities and the public is needed to ensure that patients with critical and emergency conditions receive immediate and appropriate medical attention.
The NSPH is Northern Samar’s main referral hospital, serving patients from various municipalities across the province.
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The provincial government also operates eight district hospitals across Northern Samar, each with a capacity ranging from 50 to 100 beds.
Hospital bed capacity refers to the number of beds available for patient care. When admissions exceed a facility’s capacity, hospitals may not be able to take in new patients, particularly those requiring emergency or specialized services.
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In such situations, referring hospitals are generally expected to provide initial assessment and stabilization, when medically appropriate, before transferring patients to a higher-level facility. This reduces risks during patients’ transport and allows the receiving hospital to prepare for those who require specialized care./coa
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