PGH asks patients to consider other hospitals during 10-month ER renovation

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Friday appealed to patients to consider going to other hospitals while its emergency room is undergoing a 10-month renovation and construction.

A report by Ivan Mayrina in 24 Oras said that construction workers at the PGH has started taking down the ceiling of the emergency room.

During the renovation, Wards 14 and 15 will be used as temporary ER.

At the temporary ER, despite better lighting and ventilation, overcrowding is still an issue in the 26-bed ward. There were still patients beds along the hallway.

The old ER, which had a 56-bed capacity, used to be overcrowded.

Dr. Jonas del Rosario, UP-PGH Coordinator for Public Affairs, asked patients to go to other hospitals for the time being, if possible.

"Gusto po sana namin ay 'yung mga pasyente po talagang agaw buhay ang talagang madala dito," he said.

"Pagkatapos po ng sampung buwan na 'to na pagkaabala ay meron tayong mas malaki, mas malinis, mas modernong emergency room para sa ating publiko at para gumanda ang serbisyo ng PGH," he added.

Meanwhile, hospital staff are currently working double time doing triage to to determine whether the patient should be confined or if they are well enough to be sent home.

The relatives of the patients had no complaints about the arrangement, adding that medical treatment has not changed.

The PGH was founded on 1908, and the ER's last renovation was in 1992. — Jessica Bartolome/BAP, GMA News