Overflowing COVID cases - Private hospitals in Chennai turning away many patients now
Posted on: 03/Apr/2021 9:32:46 AM
In the last 2 days, many private hospitals in Chennai have been turning away patients due to an increase in the number of fresh Covid-19 cases now. The hospitals in Chennai are now full of Coronavirus cases (with 7161 active cases).
The lack of ventilators or facilities for high flow nasal oxygen has made many hospitals turn away the patients. It was brought out by a state website yesterday that all the 130 beds at Billroth Hospitals in Shenoy Nagar have been. In the same way, the website revealed that 40 Covid beds at Kauvery hospitals have also been occupied. It was mentioned that more than 90% beds in Gleneagles Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals in Greams Road were also occupied.
As per Dr. Subramanian Swaminathan of Gleneagles Hospitals, some patients were redirected to other hospitals as they needed high flow oxygen plus beds. It is worthy to note that smaller hospitals and nursing homes that have been admitting patients with moderate illness have also started turning away the patients. Point is that home based isolation has been advised to many young and asymptomatic patients now. The shared accommodation within the hospitals is being increased now and this was pointed out by some representatives of private hospitals.
Over the last 1 week, the oxygen and ventilator requirements have increased due to an increase in the admission of Covid-19 patients in the government hospitals in Chennai.
It has been learnt that at the Omandurar Multi Speciality Hospital with 550 beds as many as350 patients are on oxygen therapy. It was mentioned by the dean Dr Jayanthi that about 25% of patients who showed severe symptoms also need ventilation. Out of 100 in-patients at KMCH, nearly 35 are now in oxygen support. This KMCH also has other patients who are senior citizens and those with co-morbid conditions requiring institutional care.
