The Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, near Tel Aviv, has sent letters to the Magen David Adom emergency service and the health ministry asking that patients not be sent to it during the evening hours three times a week because the facility is overloaded with patients, according to a Thursday evening report by Channel 10 television. Director Ari Shamiss of the facility's general hospital says the turnaround time dictated by the need to treat patients with higher priorities does not allow patients to get the minimum amount of care and diagnosis at Israel's biggest hospital.
The minstry said it is aware of the situation at Sheba and other hospitals and is looking into ways to help, but the hospital won't close its doors to patients because it does not have the authority to do so.