Cases spike, govt hospitals in city running out of beds

The government hospitals in the city including Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, Stanley Medical College and Hospital have about 400 beds each allocated for the patients, while around 500 beds were allocated for the treatment of patients at the Omandurar Government

General Multispeciality Hospital. However, more than 70 percent beds at most of these hospitals are already full and rest are filling up fast, said officials.

“The patients from RGGGH had to be shifted to Omandurar Government General Hospital to ensure beds for the new positive cases, especially for the ones who are elderly and critical.

The hospital authorities are also making arrangements for more number of wards. The patients were earlier kept in the new rheumatology block and now in tower three of the hospital is also being used to accomodate patients,” said a doctor from RGGGH.

Sources from Stanley Medical College and Hospital say that asymptomatic patients admitted are being sent to an Arts College to ensure beds and medical care facilities at the hospital premises for critical patients. “The medical staff and facilities such as availability of oxygen and other equipment is being made at the college to take care of the patient if they destabilise. A large number of patients from the neighbouring localities including Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar have been admitted to the Stanley Medical College and Hospital. Thus, the bed capacity has become full very fast,” said a doctor.