KATH Halts Emergency Admissions for 24 Hours as Overcrowding Hits A&E

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has paused new admissions at its Accident and Emergency Centre for 24 hours after patient numbers surged beyond capacity, management announced Tuesday.

In a statement from its Public Affairs Unit, KATH said the A&E unit can no longer take additional emergency cases for now. The 37-bed facility is currently handling 61 admitted patients in its critical care zones, with 34 more waiting for beds.

Hospital management said the temporary suspension will reduce pressure on staff and protect care for patients already admitted. “The decision was taken to prevent further strain on staff and to ensure that critically ill patients already at the centre receive adequate care,” the statement read.

KATH is asking the public to use other hospitals in the Ashanti Region for emergency services while it works to stabilise the situation. It is also coordinating with the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate to divert cases to ease the load on the centre.

According to management, emergency physicians and medical teams are managing the spike in cases and will reopen admissions once capacity allows. The hospital said it is monitoring the situation closely and will review it periodically.