Not enough beds for COVID-19 patients
The Hindu
Both in private and government hospitals in Tiruchi
With COVID-19 cases rising by the day, beds in both private and government hospitals in Tiruchi have filled up rendering patients seeking admission in emergency situations helpless. Beds in Tiruchi Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, too, are entirely occupied. With over 500 patients testing positive in Tiruchi daily, hospitals in the city are overstretched and unable to handle the increasing number of cases. Though private hospitals have allocated 50% of their bed capacity for COVID-19 treatment, it is not enough under the prevailing circumstances. All 684 beds at the Tiruchi MGMGH in the COVID ward, 60 in the ICU and 311 with oxygen supply are occupied. ‘When a patient is discharged, or when something untoward happens to them... that’s when we have vacancies, otherwise, we are full,’ a senior doctor said. The staff are overworked and unable to handle the stress. ‘At least 10 staff nurses have tested positive, and with only 280 of us, including 45 on COVID duty, we are unable to manage. While the nature of our job is already stressful, the fear of contracting the virus adds to the rigour,’ a senior staff nurse said.More Related News