4 major hospitals in Metro full

FOUR big hospitals in Metro Manila have been stretched to the limit because of the rising cases of Covid-19.

The situation has gotten so bad that in one hospital, three patients share a private room. In another, the waiting time for an ICU patient to get a room is 3 to five days.

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) said on Sunday 170 of its 200 beds are occupied.

The St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in Global City is full, and so is the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.

reported that most of their beds for both Covid and non-Covid patients are already filled, which is also the case with the Lung Center of the Philippines.

SLMC chief medical officer Dr. Benjamin Campomanes said that the hospital in Taguig City is “101 percent full.”

“Kasi yung iba, pwedeng dalawa, o tatlo sa isang room, pinapayagan na namin ‘yon, lahat yon Covid ( in some cases, we allow two to three Covid patients in one room),” he said.

“Katulad ng maraming ospital, talagang overwhelmed din kami (Just like other hospitals, we are already overwhelmed,” Campomanes said as he called on those needing medical attention to go to other hospitals.

The Lung Center of the Philippines on Saturday said all beds had been occupied.

“Lahat ng categories, from ICU beds, critical beds, isolation beds, cohorting beds, napuno na nang napuno ‘yung ward,” hospital spokesman Dr. Norberto Francisco said.

PGH Spokesman Jonas del Rosario said that 170 of the hospital’s 200 beds are occupied.

Its intensive care unit wards are full.

“Napakahirap kami ngayong mag-admit ng severe or critically ill na kailangan ay ICU setting,” he said. “Kaya ‘yung iba na gustong magpalipat sa PGH ay hindi pa namin matanggap (It’s difficult for us to admit severe or critically ill patients who need ICU setting. We can no longer accept those who want to be transferred to  PGH),” he said.

The Philippines saw the biggest single-day increase of Covid cases on Saturday at 7,999.