Cubicles come up at PGI’s emergency ward

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3

The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) emergency ward and Advanced Trauma Centre have started witnessing a huge rush of patients.

In order to ensure social distancing among visitors in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, the authorities at the PGI have installed cubicles (30 each) at the emergency ward and Advanced Trauma Centre. Besides, the area has been segregated into red, orange and green zones for triaging of patients.

However, 96 patients are admitted at the Emergency Ward and 70 patients at the Advanced Trauma Centre. The institute is hard pressed to accommodate patients while ensuring social distancing.

Before the lockdown, on a usual day at the PGI, the footfall at the emergency ward and advanced trauma centre was 250-300 patients.

Prof Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, said, “Nowadays, there is a tremendous rush at the Emergency Ward. We have erected cabins to separate two patients from each other and maintain social distancing. If one patient has Covid-19, the infection won’t be transmitted to another patient admitted there. As there is a space crunch due to newly adopted approach, sometimes we accommodate two patients in a cubicle at a safe distance.”

Prof Ram said, “So many patients are coming to the Emergency Ward and we cannot say no to them. This is a big challenge. We are taking consent from patients that there is an immense patient load and we will try our best to treat them.”

PGI catering to 10% patient load

On a routine day, the PGI has a patient load of 10,000. However, at present, the load is 10 per cent due to Covid-19 pandemic. On June 3, the institute diagnosed 570 patients (physically) at the New OPD and 797 patients through teleconsultation.

The PGI is also mulling to make a holding area at multi- level parking for patients, from where they will be sent to respective departments. Patients will be allowed to come as per telephonic appointment, referral system and teleconsultation, said Prof Ram.