TN scrambles to add oxygen beds

TN scrambles to add oxygen beds

Data On Beds Not In Public Domain

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:20.04.2021

Government medical college hospitals in Chennai on Monday struggled to increase oxygen beds amid a dearth of resources including doctors, postgraduates and nurses. The public too were hassled as information on bed availability in government hospitals wasn’t available in the public domain.

The state Covid webpage showedthatof the116government-enlisted private hospitals for Covid care, 91 updated their status until Monday. Of these, 28 reported an occupancy of 100% or more, while 31 had more than 70% occupancy. On an average, 70% of oxygen beds across all private hospitals were occupied. No such information was available for government hospitals. Director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu said no patient was turned away. “But since many are asking for information about government hospitals, we are working towards putting it up on the portal.”

Information from the covid control room at the Directorate of Medical Education showed that by 3pm, nearly 72% of beds in five government hospitals were occupied. The occupancy was at 36% in health centres and 12% at Covid Care Centres.

Most patients in the four medical college hospitals and Government Covid hospital in Guindy have moderate or serious illness requiring oxygen. At the Guindy hospital, 250 of the 550 beds are oxygen beds. The government plans to add another 150 beds here.

On Monday, staff at the 3,628-bed Rajiv Gandhi Government General Gospital were dragging oxygen pipelines to more than 150 beds. “We had set aside1,618 beds as isolation beds for Covid treatment. Of this, a little more than 850 are oxygen beds, and they are all taken. We are adding oxygen pipelines to more beds,” said dean Dr E Theranirajan.

Converting a bed into oxygen bed is more than just civil work. “We have adequate oxygen capacity to convert almost all beds to oxygen beds. But it’s not just about dragging the gas pipe,” said a senior Stanley Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) professor. “We have to match it with human resources.” Of the 1,200 designated for Covid care at SMCH, 750 are oxygen beds.

“Nearly a third of all our postgraduate students are not working because they have exams. Last year, several doctors, nurses and paramedical staff were posted or deputed to city hospitals. We don’t have them this year,” he said.

Of the 380 nurses at SMCH, 10-15 are posted to manage wards where there are senior or vulnerable patients with moderate/severe illness. Health officials said facilities will be ramped up.