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PGH says ER still closed after fire, thanks donors
The Philippine General Hospital on Monday said its emergency room is still closed following the fire that occurred on Sunday.
It also thanked all the donors who sent much needed in-kind and cash donations.
"Ang ER, hindi pa po. Hopefully by tomorrow, bukas na. Ngayong oras hindi pa po puwedeng buksan. Inaayos pa ang mga bagay-bagay," PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said in an interview on Unang Balita.
(The ER is still closed. Hopefully by tomorrow, it will be open. At the moment it cannot be opened yet. We are still fixing some stuff.)
Del Rosario said operations are getting back to normal at the hospital.
"Almost all patients are back to their rooms and wards," he said, except for those who were transferred to other hospitals such as newborn babies and a few private patients.
"'Yung mga nailipat sa chapel, sa corridor, ER, halos naibalik na po namin sila lahat," he said.
(Those who were temporarily transferred to the chapel, the corridor, the ER, almost all of them were moved back to their rooms or wards.)
Del Rosario said COVID-19 patients were isolated from non-COVID-19 patients even during the evacuation.
He added that the operations of the operating rooms remain suspended since they have to check first which instruments were affected by the fire.
"Within 24-48 hours, masasabi namin kung kailan magre-resume," Del Rosario said.
(Within 24-48 hours, we will be able to say when [the operating rooms] can resume.)
Del Rosario said there was hardly any water damage at the hospital.
"Wala halos water damage. Maingat ang mga bumbero. Maselan ang lugar. Alam nilang hindi puwedeng mabasa lahat," he said.
(There was hardly any water damage. The firemen were very careful. The area was sterile. They knew the area could not afford to be damaged by water.)
The cause of the fire that occurred before dawn on Sunday
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The ER was closed and no admissions were accommodated on Sunday after the incident.
Meanwhile, PGH advised its staff to wear K95 masks 24/7 from May 16 to 17, according to a report by Mai Bermudez on Unang Balita.
Donations
Del Rosario said the hospital welcomes in-kind and cash donations.
Donors may deposit to PGH's legitimate accounts or call the hospital hotline at 155-200 to get more details.
"Nagpapasalamat po kami sa lahat ng mabilis tumugon sa aming pawagan ng tulong lalo na sa mga nagbigay ng sheets at linen, unan. 'Yung mga pasyenteng nailipat sa ER ang nando'n ay mga stretcher lang kaya kailangan nila 'yon. Mga nagdala ng breast milk para sa mga sanggol, mga nagdala ng pagkain. Para kaming nagkaroon ng community pantry," Del Rosario said.
(We thank everyone who immediately responded to our needs, especially those who gave sheets, linen, and pillows. The patients who were transferred [temporarily] to the ER needed those since only stretchers were available. [We also thank] those who brought breast milk for babies, those who brought food. It was like we had a community pantry.)
"Nagpapasalamat din kami sa maayos na evacuation na ginawa po ng mga tao, doctors, nurses, healthcare workers. Very cooperative ang mga pasyente, kanilang mga watchers," he added.
(We also are grateful to everyone, the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers that the evacuation was conducted well. Patients and watchers alike were very cooperative.)
"Ang mga firemen buwis-buhay tinukoy nila ang problema kahapon," Del Rosario added.
(The firemen risked their lives to address the problem yesterday.) —KG, GMA News