KUALA LUMPUR – Pictures of frontliners performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a patient gasping for air on the floor of the emergency department at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) are true.
Commenting on the images circulating on social media, a source who works in HKL told The Vibes that such is the situation at the department due to a lack of beds.
“There were no available beds at the emergency department when the photo was taken.
“They (frontliners) laid the patient down on a sheet of canvas on the floor, and they attended to the patient.”
Posts on Facebook revealed that HKL doctors have complained of intravenous (IV) drip stand shortages at the hospital, forcing them to improvise to keep IV bags upright, with one picture showing an IV bag taped to a pipe.
“Drip stands have finished… don’t worry, we have improvised,” read the post.
Selamat Datang Ke HKL .. katil abis CPR atas lantai.. drip stand abis lekat kat dinding ja.. positive covid19 category 4 duk atas kerusi dgn oksigen je.... credit photo @ekinadnan
Posted by Mohd Nor Amrii on Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Another post revealed that there are not enough oxygen tanks to go around in the emergency department, forcing patients to share oxygen supplies with each other.
It also suggested that the current predicament faced by exhausted frontliners at HKL may possibly be due to the closure of other nearby hospitals.
“Let’s pray for HKL’s emergency department.
“Ampang Hospital, Selayang Hospital and Sg Buloh Hospital are all closed, but HKL cannot close.”
Yes. Its happening guys.. ? Sebab aku pregnant, aku cover clean zone ( Yellow and Green Zone ) .. tapi serious boleh...
Posted by Nuur Qamarina on Saturday, July 3, 2021
A pregnant frontliner, who works at the green and yellow zones of the emergency department, shared what she witnessed in a post on the social media platform.
“Yes, it is happening guys... I can see the increment of patients who are coming to the emergency department.
“Today alone, 131 patients were stranded at HKL’s emergency department.
“Little do you know, half of the stranded patients are Covid-19-positive.”
Bernama reported HKL director Datuk Dr Heric Corray as saying the patient was brought to the unit unconscious, without a pulse, and was not breathing.
“However, at that time, all beds were occupied and the floor was the best flat surface to perform CPR immediately. However, the patient could not be saved.
“As the cause of the death could not be identified, the deceased was sent to the HKL forensic medical department for a post-mortem and is now awaiting results,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Due to the pressing bed utilisation situation at the hospital, which had increased due to Covid-19 cases, Dr Heric said most of the cases are in category four while bed management planning is based on current needs.
On reports of beds and staff constraint in the intensive care unit (ICU), he said bed occupancy at the unit is at its highest, however, medical equipment, such as oxygen and beds are being planned. – The Vibes, July 4, 2021
