Hospitals in Delhi-NCR face shortage of beds as dengue cases see a spike

The rising cases of dengue in the Delhi-NCR region have become a headache for the health authorities in the government as well as private hospitals as they face a shortage of beds.

In Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, patients and their families could be seen sitting on the floor of the wards. Doctors are also seen treating dengue patients on the floor. Many haven’t got a bed, and those who have are forced to share with other patients.

There are long lines at the emergency counter to get admission, which only adds to their woes.

“The situation is such that there is no guarantee of getting a bed. Admission is given only to those patients who are found bleeding or their platelets have fallen till 30,000,” a hospital staffer told India Today.

Of the 220 patients admitted in Delhi’s Swami Dayanand Hospital, 54 were dengue patients. The hospital administration has stopped emergency surgeries to accommodate them.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS ARE CROWDED AS WELL
Noida’s Kailash Hospital has converted a conference hall into a makeshift arrangement as the hospital has been witnessing a rush of dengue patients.

In Saket’s Max Hospital in Saket, 65-year-old Meenu Gupta was lucky to have got a bed for surgery for urine infection. “When I came here, I was unsure if I will get a bed. At the time, last week, most patients were admitted for dengue and beds were full. Since all my earlier treatment happened here, and my medical case history was also recorded here, I was arranged a bed in another ward,” she said.

Doctors say the uptick in dengue cases is not the only reason for the shortage of beds. Dr Rommel Tikoo, Director Internal Medicine at Max Hospital in Saket, said, “At least 50 per cent patients are of dengue. But there are other admissions as well, including patients who have elective surgeries. Patients are coming due to pollution-related illnesses also. But we are expecting that there will be a downward trend of dengue cases once winter sets in.”

CHILDREN FACING DENGUE THREAT
Dr Sarika Chandra, in-charge of dengue admissions in Kailash Hospital, said children are facing greater threat due to dengue. “We are admitting patients when platelets fall to below 50,000 or if found bleeding, triaging patients from those needing immediate attention is done. We have seen that children are facing more mortality because they are being tested late and are coming in late to seek treatment,” she said.

At PGI Hospital in Noida, which is a children’s hospital, about 240 children have been admitted for dengue fever. Hospital authorities said that one patient succumbed to acute viral fever a few days ago. The direct cause has not been ascertained to dengue.

There’s another problem. In the hospital’s basement, water has collected due to a pipeline burst. The water has collected in such a way that mosquitoes are seen floating above it.

Dr Jyotsna Madan, the hospital’s director, said, “Yes, there is water in the basement due to a pipe burst. We have asked for work to be commissioned to rectify the problem. It will be done in two days.”

Dr Madan also said that more dengue cases are being seen this time around. “There are definitely more dengue cases, along with other viral infection cases also. But in this hospital, we are trying to accommodate all patients. We treat children since this is a children’s hospital,” said Dr Madan.

DENGUE FIGURES UNDERREPORTED?
According to a civic report released on Monday, Delhi registered 1,006 cases of dengue this year, with 665 cases being reported till October 23. One death has been recorded so far due to dengue. The Noida administration has reported around 400 cases of dengue and one death.

However, reports suggest that at least 11 people died this year due to dengue in Safdarjung Hospital alone. India Today tried to reach out to the hospital authorities but they have declined to reply. India Today