S'gor Health Dept ramping up preparations in hospitals to face surge in Covid-19 cases

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor Health Department is ramping up preparations in hospitals in the state to face a surge in capacity needed for Covid-19 patients, especially those in Categories 3 to 5, says Datuk Dr Sha'ari Ngadiman (pic).

The state health director said the department wanted to inform the public of the current status of hospitals in Selangor, especially the Serdang hospital, following viral pictures of the situation there.

In the pictures that went viral, a patient was seen lying on the floor while others were seen in uncomfortable conditions in a tent.

“Following the spike in cases in Selangor every day, the department has conducted preparations to face the surge in capacity needed for Covid-19 patients, especially those in Categories 3 to 5.

“We are outsourcing part of the clinical services to private hospitals to reduce congestion in public facilities and to ensure patients, especially non-Covid-19 patients, are treated,” Dr Sha’ari said Saturday (July 24).

He added that such outsourcing efforts will be monitored according to the Health Ministry’s protocol and criteria in selecting patients and the hospitals involved.

“Each hospital is also optimising existing facilities such as operating theatres, wards and clinics to accommodate the increase in patients,” he said.

Dr Sha’ari said the usage of additional tents as temporary wards had also been implemented in emergency departments in Selangor.

“The viral pictures involving Serdang hospital showed its emergency department while the facility was waiting to receive equipment, including tents that come with air conditioning and fans.

“Works to set up the tents for Covid-19 patients equipped with air conditioning, fans, water dispensers, toilets and electricity were completed on July 21,” he said, adding that 81 extra beds were provided in this effort.

He said the department is always committed in giving optimum treatment to all patients and urged the public to follow the standard operating procedures.