Officials with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown say the number of diversions of emergency patients to other Island hospitals has been cut in half so far this winter.

Patients are sent to other hospitals if there aren't enough suitable beds available at the QEH. The latest diversion was Tuesday when four patients were sent to Summerside and one to Montague.

While there was a shortage of space Tuesday, hospital executive director Rick Adams said overall there has been an improvement this winter. He noted there were 14 diversions by this point in the winter last year, but only seven so far this winter.

He said the hospital has been working on what it calls overcapacity protocol.

"We place what we call off-service patients in some of our in-patient units, i.e., we would place individuals who wouldn't necessarily be pediatric patients on the pediatric unit to clear up some space in emerg," said Adams.

"The same thing with our unit four, which is normally gynecology, obstetrics area. So we would identify patients who would be reasonably appropriate to place in those areas to help reduce some of the pressure in emerg."

Adams said it's always better for patients and their families to be closer to home.