Siriraj to move very ill patients
Play
A large number of seriouslyill patients at Siriraj Hospital, which is being threatened by brimming Chao Phraya, will be soon evacuated by marine transport to four hospitals outside Bangkok, dean of Mahidol University's Siriraj Medical School, Prof Dr The
The doctor did not give details about the number of those set for evacuation, but separate news reports said there were 2,300 on beds, including 500 in serious conditions, 127 of whom are under lift support system. The destination hospitals are in Chon Buri, Ratchaburi, Prachaup Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi.
A long ArunAmmarin Road section connecting the hospital to the exit of elevated ramp from Rama VIII Bridge has been flooded, after the Chao Phaya swelling yesterday morning, prompting motorists to park vehicles on it, before they and hospital staff were further transported by large buses.
Patients at government hospitals in flooded areas in Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi are set to evacuated to those outside the capital, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.
An initial plan is to move around 50 to 100 seriouslyill patients while preventive measures are being adopted at government hospitals not yet flooded, said minister Wittaya Buranasiri and permanent secreatary Phajit Warachit yesterday at a press conference.
The further plans are relocation of stable patients, setups of hygience surveillance teams and assigning them around shelters, assigning visits of public heath volunteers at field hospitals, setups of new field hospitals in areas at risk of coming floods in Chachoengsao, Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram, checkups of communications and vehicles in the ministry's motorpools and adequacy of medical supplies.
Patients are catogorised into three groups: The Red for seriouslyill patients for immediate evacuation to destination hospitals in Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi, while hospitals no longer under floodwater will retrieve their seriouslyill patients.
The Green are patients not under life support system who will be further treated at hospitals they are now, until further notice for their future evaucation. The Yellow are those requiring minimal attention, and will later be transferred to lessequipped community hospitals. The evacuation of the first batch of the Red began yesterday and the first Yellow batch will begin today, Phaijit said.
A field Nonthavej hospital was inaugurated, with free service provided, on Tuesday near Central Rattanathibet branch off Ngamwongwan Road, with the support of privatelyrun Nonthavej hospital. Phaijit said it would provide free general medical service around the clock until further notice. Patients in serious conditions will be transferred to others better equipped. Contact 025262160.
Free counselling for those with stress or mental illness by psychologist with Sri Thanya mental hospital is provided at 1667 and 1323 around the clock.
Privatelyrun Yanhee Hospital, located along a heavilyflooded Charansanitwong Road section, said it was still opened, with 1.5metres walls and 10 water pumps working, said director Suphoj Samritthiwanichha.
