Vadodara: If the spike in the number of swine flu positive cases reported in Vadodara city and district continues at the same rate, there will be no bed available in any private hospital in the city soon.
According to health officials, there are 212 isolation bed facilities in 20 hospitals, including 18 private hospitals in the city apart from those at state-run SSG Hospital and GMERS, Gotri.
Against this, by Sunday evening, 174 patients, including 144 from within Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) limits and 30 from Vadodara rural were undergoing treatment at private and government hospitals in the city.
The figure remains the same on Monday as well, when 177 patients, including 142 from within VMC limits and 35 from Vadodara rural were undergoing treatment at the hospitals.
When contacted by TOI, private hospitals confirmed that their isolation wards are currently full and they don’t have room to admit any other patient.
At Sterling Hospital, officials confirmed on Monday that the hospital which has 12 beds to treat swine flu patients, are fully occupied.
The situation was same at Bhailal Amin General Hospital. “We have identified 13 beds for swine flu of which two are ICU isolation wards and 11 beds in swine flu ward. With the spike in number of patients, all our beds are fully occupied,” said Dr Kartik Joshi, head, medical services at the hospital.
Looking at the alarming spike in swine flu cases, Joshi opined that there is a need to increase the number of beds for treating patients.
Parimal Patel, CEO of BAPS Shastriji Maharaj Hospital, too confirmed that all the 18 beds at Atladra-based hospital are fully occupied.
“The occupancy rate has remained around 90 per cent,” he said.
“We have 15 isolation beds but the number of patients varies on each day. In last week, we witnessed occupancy ranging from five beds to 15 beds as patients are being discharged and new ones are getting admitted,” said Dr Dipak Solanki, medical superintendent of GMERS, Gotri.
SSG Hospital officials, however, said they have room for more patients. “At present, we are treating 45 patients and can still admit more as currently we have 70 beds in swine flu isolation ward,” said Dr Rajiv Daveshwar, medical superintendent.
Prashant Rupera is special correspondent at The Times of India, V...
Read MorePrashant Rupera is special correspondent at The Times of India, Vadodara and reports on politics, business, heritage, and education. He has been regularly reporting on the dairy sector in Gujarat which pioneered the White Revolution in the country. His interests include reading, watching movies and spending time with family and friends.
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