KATHMANDU, JUNE 2
Though the number of new COVID-19 cases is decreasing across the nation, the number of COVID patients visiting Patan Hospital in need of oxygen therapy and ICU has not decreased.
According to the hospital, the number of coronavirus infected people being admitted to the hospital has not dropped. A total of 225 COVID-19 patients are in the COVID ward while 210 are in other wards of the hospital. Director of Patan Hospital Dr Rabi Shakya said that the number of COVID-19 patients visiting the hospital for oxygen therapy had not decreased. Around 25 new patients visit the hospital on a daily basis.
He added that all ICU beds except NICU were occupied by COVID patients.
According to the hospital, though the number of people visiting the hospital for PCR test has decreased, the number of patients visiting the hospital for admission had not declined. Shakya said that the number of people visiting the 'fever clinic' had also decreased to some extent in the last one week.
The hospital has been carrying out treatment of COVID-19 patients from last year. It has been expanding the capacity of the COVID ward as needed.
The hospital now has 300 beds in the COVID ward and almost all the beds are occupied. Although the government has imposed prohibitory order, the hospital has not closed its OPD service.
Shakya added, "The hospital has been carrying out treatment of all patients visiting the hospital." The hospital has set aside 30 ICU beds and 18 ventilators for treatment of COV- ID-19 patients. Apart from the COVID-19 ICUs, the hospital has 20 ICUs including surgical, medical and paediatric.
Hospital director Shakya said the number of beds had been increased as per the need with the surge in coronavirus infection cases. "It was 21 when the infection started and the number of beds has been expanded as per the need," he added.
The hospital has been increasing the number of beds for COVID-19 patients in line with its previous year's plan. So far it had allocated nearly half of its total 650 beds for COVID patients. Shakya said all the beds could be allocated for COV- ID-19 patients if required.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 3, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
