BANGKOK: A scarcity of hospital beds in Thailand has put a pressure on its public well being system as a brand new wave of COVID-19 contaminated greater than 34,000 sufferers this month.
On Thursday (Apr 29), the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 1,871 new instances and 10 extra deaths. Although the each day case quantity went beneath 2,000 for the primary time in six days, hospitals are more and more crammed with sufferers with extreme situations.
Data from the Public Health Ministry confirmed a gradual improve in sufferers with intubation wants and those who are suffering pneumonitis or irritation of lung tissues, which may lead to respiratory failure and dying. The variety of such sufferers exceeded 1,000 on Thursday.
The continued improve of infections has led to the opening of a number of area hospitals and lodge hospitals nationwide, the place greater than 10,000 beds stay out there.
However, these services can solely accommodate asymptomatic sufferers and those with delicate symptoms. For those with reasonable symptoms or extreme situations, they want to be handled at common hospitals.
READ: Thai PM granted sweeping powers to curb COVID-19
According to the Department of Medical Services, there are 44,560 hospital beds throughout Thailand. As of Apr 27, 22,865 beds have been out there.
But greater than half of those have been positioned at area hospitals and lodge hospitals, whereas a lot of beds in common hospitals have been taken.
“Airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIR) are most equipped for patients with severe conditions who require intubation. Modified AIIRs, which are secondary, can also accommodate those with severe conditions. These two types of rooms are already 70 per cent to 80 per cent (occupied),” deputy director of the Medical Services Department Nattapong Wongwiwat mentioned at a press convention on Tuesday.
“So, frankly speaking, we have come to a tight situation where we don’t have much space left for new patients unless it is well managed. We can’t admit 100 per cent of the patients and this is why we need to manage it by reserving the beds.”
According to Nattapong, it’s important to regularly take away sufferers from airborne an infection isolation rooms and intensive care models as soon as they’ve recovered so as to make area for those in want. At the identical time, he famous, Thailand additionally wants extra such rooms in each personal and public hospitals.
“Airborne infection isolation rooms are still available in private hospitals but for any patient to be admitted there, it depends on the doctor’s diagnosis,” Nattapong mentioned.
“Patients who exhibit many symptoms will be taken in first. As for patients whose symptoms show they can wait, the system will gradually handle them. The same applies to private hospitals,” he added.
READ: With few travellers, Thailand turns Suvarnabhumi airport into COVID-19 vaccination centre
“MAINTAIN HOSPITAL BEDS FOR THOSE IN NEED”
As the need for hospital beds grows, public attention has been drawn to Thailand’s health system amid reports of bed shortage and consequential deaths of COVID-19 patients.
Last week, an 85-year-old woman died at her house in Bangkok while waiting for a hospital bed.
Her case captured public attention when a TikTok video went viral, showing three elderly women stuck in their own home after testing positive for the coronavirus. The 85-year-old was in a critical condition. She was shown lying on the floor behind her two sisters, aged 70 and 75.
“To any unit, please come here quickly and take her. My sister is dying and hasn’t eaten for days. She has been asleep since last night and would not wake up. Normally, she’d get up to have coffee in the morning,” one of her sisters said in a plea in the video.
The clip was posted on Apr 13 before it went viral. Nine days later, the elderly woman in a critical condition was reported to have died at home while waiting for help.
According to the family’s relative, who posted on social media asking for medical help, the family had tried to contact health workers through “every channel” but no ambulance was sent to pick them up.
“Everybody is sorry and has tried their best to solve the problem. But even doing their best is not enough,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters after learning about the elderly woman’s death.
READ: Thai finance ministry slashes GDP outlook over COVID-19 return
Her case is one of several others where the infected have been unable to secure hospital beds or get in touch with medical personnel through COVID-19 hotlines. According to CCSA assistant spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan, the government and relevant units are aware of the situation and are working to resolve it.
“I’d like to stress all the units that provide services have already been trying to discuss, coordinate and come to a conclusion on a daily basis in order to bring these people into the monitoring system and healthcare, as well as provide them with beds so they are safe,” she said in a briefing at the Government House on Wednesday.
“Each day, we know there are patients who wait for the beds and management that would enable them to receive the right treatments. But at the same time, we continue to have new patients and their number is growing dramatically.”
Data from the Public Health Ministry showed a jump in the daily case numbers from 194 cases on Apr 5 to 2,070 cases on Apr 23. The daily case numbers had remained higher than 2,000 until Thursday.
“Some hospitals reported that 25 per cent to 50 per cent of their patients are those with severe conditions who need intubation,” Apisamai said.
“That’s why from time to time, there are requests for patients who don’t exhibit severe conditions to go to field hospitals or hotel hospitals. This is the reason why we need to maintain hospital beds for those in need.”
READ: Thai prime minister fined for not wearing face mask in public amid new wave of COVID-19
PARTS OF THAILAND TO TURN “DARK RED” IN MAY
Last yr, Thailand managed to comprise the unfold of COVID-19, and reported comparatively low numbers of infections and casualties in contrast to different nations.
But the scenario modified in 2021. As the nation geared in direction of reopening some areas for tourism, it was hit by a brand new wave of outbreaks that unfold from nightclubs, events and eating places.
Tens of 1000’s of infections have unfold nationwide since early April, alongside with studies of the UK pressure of the coronavirus, which might unfold 1.7 instances sooner than the “wild type” pressure discovered beforehand in Thailand.
To decelerate the unfold, CCSA introduced a proposed new class of zoning referred to as “most and strict managed space” on Thursday. The new classification is predicted to take impact on May 1 and embrace six provinces, particularly Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakarn.
READ: Bangkok could be declared COVID-19 red zone ahead of Thai water festival
Bangkok has reported 11,588 instances since April, making it probably the most contaminated province in Thailand. According to CCSA spokesperson Taweesin Wisanuyothin, residents within the six so-called “dark red zones” are anticipated to face extra restrictions come Saturday. These embrace bans on dining-in at eateries and occasions with greater than 20 folks.
“Businesses selling food and drinks can only do takeaways,” he mentioned in a briefing on the Government House on Thursday. “No consumption of food, drinks, alcohol or alcoholic drinks will be allowed at the eateries, which will be able to operate until 9 pm.”
Indoor sports activities venues, gyms and health centres will as soon as once more face momentary closures whereas shops and group malls can keep open till 9 pm, in accordance to Taweesin.
“People living in the maximum and strict controlled areas are to avoid travelling outside the area unless necessary, in order to reduce trips that could risk infection,” he mentioned, including this isn’t a curfew however a request for cooperation.
BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the most recent updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Read More at www.channelnewsasia.com
source https://infomagzine.com/thailand-faces-tight-situation-for-hospital-beds-those-with-many-covid-19-symptoms-to-get-priority/
No comments:
Post a Comment