Fever cases on rise: Understaffed ICH asks for more staff

With more than 100 patients coming to the Institute of Child Health (ICH) for admission daily and 30 to 40 of them being fever cases, the hospital authorities have requested for additional staff to manage the patients.

“We used to have only around 40 admissions on a daily basis before the fever cases began to surface post rainfall. In the past few weeks, the numbers have crossed 100, of which at least 30 to 40 are fever cases. We have opened a separate fever ward and have shifted beds from other wards to accommodate the increased number of children admitted to the hospital,” said Dr Mohan Kumar, consultant paediatrician, ICH.

Hospital authorities find it difficult to treat patients as there the number of paramedical staff and nurses with an increased workload is limited. Several chief doctors have been appointed to take care of each unit, but there is a need for more staff to administer the treatments in an organised manner, added Mohan.

Doctors and nurses at the fever ward of the hospital said that a few of the cases are referred to them when the patient is critical. Most of the children are stable now and even the 10 cases tested positive of dengue are being treated symptomatically. However, more staff and adequate medical facilities are required to ensure effective treatment to all patients, said doctors.

The director of ICH, Dr K Jeyachandran, has requested the Directorate of Medical Education to pool in more para-medical staff and nurses from Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, and Stanley Medical College and Government Hospital on a temporary basis to help them deal with the overload.

“We will surely consider the requirements at ICH and based on the same, we will shift staff from the other government hospitals. We will mobilise their request soon,” said Dr Narayana Babu, director of medical education (in-charge).