CHANDIGARH: The Emergency of postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh is working at more than 300 percent of its approved capacity.
Struggling to cope with the pressure, the primer health institute on Wednesday issued an appeal to various hospitals and health care facilites o Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to refer only those patients who required care and support expected from a tertiary care hospital.
PGI officials in the appeal stated that the Emergency was working at more than 300 per cent of its approved capacity. The situation created difficulties in providing prompt and efficient services, which were mandatory for any emergency patient. At any given time , at least 40 patients were on respiratory support in the form of end tracheal tube and supportive ventilation (AMBU).
Demanding cooperation from the public, hospital authorities, and other healthcare facilities, the PGI said overcrowding also put immense burden on investigative, diagnostic and therapeutic facilities.
If only patients requiring care and support expected from a tertiary care hospital were referred, it “will help the institute to concentrate adequately on the critically sick patients who need care in PGI Emergency,” PGI spokesperson Manju Wadwalkar said.
At present, the Emergency handles around 380 patients a day.
A similar appeal issued three years back had little effect.
SOURCE-HT
