Go to other hospitals, PGH asks patients

THE Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila has asked patients with non-life threatening cases to seek emergency treatment in other hospitals or clinics because it is under renovation and cannot accommodate the usual surge of patients for lack of space and personnel.

“Our appeal to patients is to stop going to PGH’s emergency room (ER) for now,” Dr. Jonas del Rosario, coordinator for public affairs of PGH, said in a radio interview.

The hospital’s ER, intensive care unit and wards have been under renovation since June 1.

“We are not allowed to send them home, but we cannot really accommodate 200 patients with just 25 beds and limited medical personnel,” del Rosario said in Filipino.

“The nurse to patient ratio must be 1:5, but the ratio right now is 1:20. It is impossible for nurses to give them medicines or be monitored well,” he added.

Patients in critical condition are given priority and treated in a makeshift ER.

Renovation work is expected to be completed in June 2019.

Del Rosario and the Department of Health advised patients to go to Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center or other other government and rural hospitals near them.

Airies Jilene Bajo, 27, of Labuan, Zamboanga City, said she sought treatment at PGH because it is the only hospital her family knows that has complete equipment and specialists. She and some relatives will sleep outside the makeshift ER until she gets admitted.

“SaCiu dad Medical Z am bo an ga,wa lang os pitalngpuso(t here is no hospital that specializes in cardiology,” Bajo said.

Marianne Alvez, who comes from Cavite, said the hospital in her town lacks equipment, thus she went to the PGH.