Patients wait-listed as 206 of PGH's 210 COVID-19 beds already occupied

Two hundred six of the Philippine General Hospital's 210 beds set aside for COVID-19 patients are already occupied, its spokesman said on Tuesday.

Dr. Jonas del Rosario told GMA News that 58 patients had been wait-listed for admission in the COVID-19 beds.

“Hindi po kami ngayon makatanggap ng referral kasi po eh puno na. At ang dami pong nag-aabang sa ER, ang aming tinatawag na holding area,” Del Rosario said.

“Marami po talagang pasyente na nagwa-walk in galing sa community, maliban po sa mga nire-refer ng ibang hospital," he added.

Of the 58 wait-listed patients, 34 are confirmed to be COVID-19-positive. The rest are suspected to be so.

Wait-listed patients with moderate to severe symptoms of COVID-19 are held at the emergency room of PGH.

Admission is based on the severity of the illness and is not on a first come, first served basis.

“Dahil nga po madaming pasyente, we are prioritizing yung mga moderate to severe po," Del Rosario said.

"Yung mga mild and asymptomatic at yung iba naman ay symptomatic, sinasabi po namin magpunta sa quarantine facility kung puwede,” he added. -NB, GMA News

Some wait-listed patients who prefer to undergo quarantine at home are advised what and what not to do to prevent spreading the virus.

PGH, a COVID referral center, started out with a 130-bed allocation for COVID patients.

Del Rosario said it would be difficult to increase the current 210-bed allocation for Covid patients.

“Parang yun na po talaga yung numero kasi po ang problema, dapat mag-increase ka ng bed, kailangan mo ring mag-increase ng manpower," Del Rosario said.

"Kulang na po ang ating mga nurses, doktor na magtatao sa mga different rooms, different beds kapag nag-increase pa. Masyado na pong mase-stretch yung aming health workers,” he added.

Some 600 doctors and nurses are on duty every shift at the PGH. There are three shifts per day.

But there are instances when the actual number of health workers on duty are less than 600 because some go on quarantine after being infected with COVID19 or after they are exposed to patients with COVID19.

In Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno said the 171 COVID19 beds in the city’s six hospitals are almost full while 56% of the 545-bed capacity in the city’s quarantine facilities are already occupied. -NB, GMA News