KLANG – The management of Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) here has vehemently denied clearing patients from its emergency and trauma department to accommodate the prime minister’s visit yesterday.
Responding to claims on social media following Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba’s visit, HTAR director Dr Zulkarnain Mohd Rawi in a statement this morning said the department was full of Covid-19 patients at that time.
“The current trend in patient numbers in the emergency and trauma department stands at between 150 and 180.
“In fact, as of July 13, the number of patients pending treatment in the department stood at 177.”
He said he made the decision to convert trainee doctors’ hostel Blocks A and B into temporary low-risk Covid-19 wards after the HTAR management’s visit to the premises on July 5.
TW | The surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths at HTAR has caused management to struggle to provide beds and supplies, and storage for the bodies.
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) July 14, 2021
A video taken inside the hospital shows remains, presumably of Covid-19 victims, that have been bagged and tagged left on the floor. pic.twitter.com/VILwNT1iZ2
“The hostel residents, comprising 10 female trainee doctors in Block A and two male trainee doctors in Block B, were ordered to relocate to the Universiti Malaya medical hostel within four days of July 9.
“The four-day notice was issued to allow renovations to be done at the UM hostel Blocks B and E.”
He said the HTAR hostel blocks were converted into wards after the trainee doctors left the facility on July 12.
On July 8, he said, the G2 and G3 hospital wards, which are adjacent to the emergency and trauma ward, were identified as a treatment area for Covid-19 patients.
“On July 9, it was suggested that the ambulatory care centre switch its function to serve as a temporary ward for Covid-19 patients, to ensure that they receive treatment under better conditions.”
He said the decision to move Covid-19 patients to the converted wards was made by the HTAR management, and not the emergency department.
The surge in coronavirus cases and deaths at HTAR has caused its management to struggle to provide beds and supplies, as well as storage for the bodies.
A video taken inside the hospital, showing remains, presumably of Covid-19 victims, that have been bagged and tagged left on the floor, has made the rounds online.
The shortages have prompted MIC to contribute a RM35,000 container for the hospital to keep bodies.
The use of temporary wards to house Covid-19 patients followed major congestion in HTAR’s emergency department that forced staff to set up canvas beds in the parking area and driveway.
After Muhyiddin’s visit, it was reported that he announced the hospital will get another 151 beds, to be placed in its mother and child care complex, as well as 15 ventilators.
He said the number of beds for Covid-19 patients at the hospital will be increased to 606, and ICU beds will be upped to 72. – The Vibes, July 14, 2021
