More beds, personnel for struggling Klang, Shah Alam hospitals
Selangor Health Department director Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman has acknowledged that two public hospitals in the state are struggling to cope with the ballooning number of Covid-19 cases.
He gave his assurance that more beds and personnel have been mobilised for both Hospital Shah Alam and Klang’s Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR).
In a statement issued last night, Sha’ari explained that the canvas beds set up outside the HTAR Emergency Department were a “temporary” measure.
“For HTAR, a majority of patients were first treated at the Emergency Department while waiting for a bed in the wards.
“Therefore, we needed to add more beds outside the department, temporarily,” he said.
Images of the outdoor beds have gone viral online, sparking concerns that the hospital had run out of space.
A source from HTAR previously told Malaysiakini that as many as 150 Covid-19 patients were waiting for a spot in the Emergency Department at one point.
Videos of the packed condition of the department also circulated on social media in recent days.
Meanwhile, Sha’ari said Hospital Shah Alam was dealing with a rise in non-Covid cases.
“The rise in acute patients being admitted to the Hospital Shah Alam Emergency Department happened after the hospital was turned into a major non-Covid specialist hospital that treats acute non-Covid patients in the Petaling district,” he said.
The director’s explanation comes after images surfaced showing patients were being treated on the floor of the hospital.
One Hospital Shah Alam source confirmed the dire situation with Malaysiakini, adding that bodies were also piling up in the Forensic Department.
The Health Ministry bars its staff from speaking to the media without prior authorisation.
Help is on the way
Sha’ari explained that all hospitals in Selangor have been seeing a “continuous” rise in Covid-19 cases since the end of June, especially the more serious Category 3, 4 and 5 cases.
The Klang Valley is the epicentre of the current infection wave.
Selangor hit a record-high yesterday, with 4,152 new cases in the past 24 hours, along with 63 deaths.
Sha’ari then echoed some of the reinforcements previously announced by Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.
“HTAR and Hospital Shah Alam are in the process of having their bed capacity increased.
“Health personnel from outside the Klang Valley are also being mobilised to assist with the Covid-19 situation in the Klang Valley, including medical officers, nurses and assistant medical officers.
“Beds are also being added by activation of the Hospital Tuanku Mizan field hospital by the Armed Forces, and by emergency procurement of medical supplies by the Selangor Health Department,” he shared.
READ MORE: Lifeline for Klang Valley hospitals on brink of collapse due to Covid-19
Yesterday, Adham said the ministry will be spending RM1.1 million to buy equipment for HTAR and to set up 60 beds there. A 50-bed field hospital will also be set up.
He did not detail any reinforcements for Hospital Shah Alam in his statement.
Other measures were announced for MAEPS Serdang, the UPM Teaching Hospital, the Health Ministry Training Institute (ILKKM) and Hospital Ampang.
