Complaints rise over inadequate facilities at Covid-19 care centre

Complaints rise over inadequate facilities at Covid-19 care centre

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:22.06.2020

The amenities at the Covid care centre at Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakkam are inadequate, patients have complained after the death of a 49-year-old woman on June 18. On May 7, too, when 250-odd patients were shifted, there were similar complaints.

On Thursday (June 18), the woman patient who was admitted on June 13 suddenly began sinking and was sent to the RGGGH in an ambulance. She died within half an hour.

Patients at the centre, whioch currently houses 450 patients, said she had been complaining of breathlessness since evening and no proper treatment was provided. One patient said a nurse or a doctor came only once in four hours. “We have mild symptoms, but shouldn’t there be people available 24x7 for any medical situation? This patient may have been saved if that was provided,” he said.

As news of her death spread, all patients began a protest, demanding medicines, sanitizers and water. “There is no water for bathing,” said one.

On Friday, a team of corporation officials came visiting. “Nearly 40-50 patients staged a protest. We provided sanitizers and water. We also provided them with an emergency call button facility,” said a sanitary officer.

Doctors at the centre told TOI it was not a treatment facility and high risk patients and those with co-morbidities weren’t admitted. “The 49-year-old patient did not have any comorbid condition and was stable. We check on vitals such as blood pressure, temperature, oxygen saturation every four hours. In the afternoon her oxygen saturation was 98. However in the evening, she became breathless and began sinking,” said a doctor. As pert the GH report, she died of covid pneumonia. But at the covid care centre, they said she did not have any symptoms of pneumonia.

As per the corporation, a covid care centre houses patients who require regular monitoring. “Most of them are patients from other districts or those who have returned from other countries,” said a doctor.

When contacted, senior corporation officials were contacted said all care centres were provided with emergency drugs, oxygen cylinders, two 108 ambulances and doctors. “The trade centre issue is resolved,” said an official.