13 die in TN hosp due to lack of O2

Authorities claim ‘technical glitch’ in oxygen supply, not shortage, caused deaths

As many as 13 patients died at the Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital on Tuesday night due to alleged oxygen shortage though the district collector A. John Louis, ruled out shortage of oxygen in the hospital. There could have been a ‘technical glitch‘ in the supply of oxygen, John Louis told the media on Wednesday, adding that the director of medical education would probe into it.

Narrating the harrowing incident, the relatives of the deceased patients said that the deaths were caused due to insufficient oxygen supply. The 13 patients, aged between 40 and 85, who were in critical care passed away one after the other at around 10.30 pm, they said.

They also claimed that hospital staff took oxygen cylinders from ambulances and tried to save a few patients who needed oxygen the most when the situation went out of control.

But it was in vain. The situation was brought under control around midnight by transporting cylinders from SRM and Karpaga Vinayaga medical colleges to the hospital GH and the situation was brought under control. Yet 13 persons lost their lives,

John Louis said he received a call at 11 pm that there were some issues in the hospital and rushed there. The hospital had 10 kilolitre oxygen as against the total capacity of 23 kilolitre, he said, adding that there were also two external 3 kilolitre oxygen set ups. “We also had cylinders that were refilled and when the pressure dropped we continued this. There is no question of oxygen shortage,” he said. The Collector further said that those who required oxygen at high pressures survived and that the patients who died were already critical with other comorbidities and issues.

Of the deceased, only one patient was Covid positive while others tested negative but had viral pneumonia and comorbidities. The collector deputed a deputy collector to continuously monitor the beds and oxygen supply at the GH and shift the severe cases to the Covid Care Centres.

Meanwhile, the Postgraduate doctors at the Chengalpattu government hospital staged a protest on Wednesday morning in the hospital premises against the alleged negligence exhibited by the administrators of the institute. According to protesting doctors, the hospital could not meet the oxygen demand as almost all oxygen beds in the wards treating Covid19 and those suspected to have Covid-19 were occupied. The hospital that usually requires 2.3 kilolitres of oxygen per day, needed 4.5 kilolitres on Tuesday, which the hospital doctors deliberately ignored.

Similarly, around 50 people from the Democratic Youth Federation of India( DYFI), staged a protest outside the Chengalpattu government hospital, condemning the negligence from the hospital side. They held placards and raised slogans against the hospital management.

The GH has 325 beds with oxygen lines. “Of the 447 patients, 256 were Coronavirus positive while 191 were suspected to be infected with the virus. Yesterday, 309 patients were put on oxygen support,” the collector said. Owing to the increase in the number of infected patients, the GH had to provide 4.5 kl oxygen to the patients yesterday alone as against the daily intake of 2.9 kl.

Louis deputed a deputy collector to continuously monitor the beds and oxygen supply at the GH and shift the severe cases to the Covid Care Centres.

“Compared to the situation in March, the district is now witnessing a five time increase in the number of infections. We will rise to the occasion if any issues arise,” he added.