No one wants a painful trip to the ER in the first place, but if you ask Lee County residents, it's more of a pain when rooms are full.
Some patients said they're waiting ten, twelve and even seventeen hours for a room at the ER. Gulf Coast Medical Center's parking lot was packed Wednesday afternoon, and according to Lee Health's website, Gulf Coast Medical Center, Health Park and Cape Coral Hospital were all very busy.
Mitch Bradshaw, a pastor of a church in Lehigh Acres, was at the ER visiting a church member who he says had been waiting for more than twelve hours for a room.
"He has a bed and there's stretchers in the hallway. Right now, they're staging everyone out in the hallway. I mean, that's the only place to put any individuals that I know of because they just said they don't have any room," Bradshaw said.
It's no secret Lee County's population is growing. Every year around this season, emergency rooms are stretched to their limits. NBC2 asked Lee Health if a shortage of doctors or floor space could be adding to the pressure, as well as what the hospital system is doing to alleviate capacity problems.
"We're seeing a spike of influenza this time of year," said Cindy Knoke, senior infection preventionist for Lee Health. "We usually don't see this type of spike until after the holidays, but it has come early."
The health system could not give us an average wait or number of patients being seen Wednesday afternoon. A spokesperson for Lee Health told NBC2 that they have available beds in all of their hospitals. They also issued NBC2 this statement:
"As our seasonal residents return to Southwest Florida, Lee Health always prepares for an increase of visits to our emergency rooms and hospitals. We remain dedicated to providing compassionate care with the support of our skilled staff, robust resources, and array of locations and services. We encourage patients to explore their care options when feeling unwell to ensure they receive the most appropriate and efficient treatment." - Lee Health
Lee Health's website states that emergency room visits are for traumatic accidents, severe injuries, burns and life-altering emergencies, while Lee Convenient Care is for minor injuries, colds and flu, sprains, cuts and rashes. You can also visit your primary care physician for general concerns.