PGH emergency room to operate at limited capacity starting June 1

The emergency room of the Philippine General Hospital will start operating at a limited capacity beginning June 1, when the renovation and construction in the country’s premiere government hospital starts.

Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, PGH director for public affairs, said that the hospital staff and facilities could hardly cope with the daily influx of patients not only from Metro Manila, but from the entire country.

“Luma, masikip, kulang sa bentilasyon, matagal na ring di nare renovate the last time was 15 years ago, definitely hindi na ma-sustain yung dami ng pasyenteng pumapasok dito dahil sa limitasyon ng space”, Del Rosario said.

The 56-bed capacity emergency room sometimes accommodates 140 to 150 patients at a time, with some patients having to wait in the hallways, some lying on lined-up monobloc chairs, and some having to sit on the floor.

The heat in the non-air conditioned room is also debilitating both for the patients and the ER staff.

While the ER is renovated, one of the wards will be converted into a temporary ER, enough for a maximum of 30 patients.

Even the admission area of the obstetrics section will be affected by the temporary closure, and will also operate on a reduced capacity from 25 to five patients.

While PGH officials said the hospital would not refuse patients, they appealed to the public, especially those coming from the provinces to make prior arrangements before bringing their patients to the hospital.

"Gusto po sana naming ma reserba yung limitadong kama o limitadong kapasidad sa mga pasyente na talagang nangangailangan," Del Rosario said.

The PGH management said that the new and expanded ER would accommodate 80 to 90 patients at any time with a better and higher level of patient care, after the 10 month project is completed.

The PGH was founded in 1907, and was first opened to the public in 1910. —NB, GMA News