Penang Hospital’s field hosp ready by Thursday, Hisham says

GEORGE TOWN – The field hospital set up in the staff car park of Penang Hospital will be ready by Thursday, amid the state’s Covid-19 surge.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein tweeted that he has instructed the armed forces to begin asset movement for the new facility.

It will have a capacity of 100 beds for Categories 4 and 5 patients, along with four intensive care unit beds.

Some 50 personnel from the armed forces will be mobilised on top of those already there.

Penang health exco Dr Norlela Ariffin told The Vibes that Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has promised that the field hospital will be up in two days and should begin operations this week.  

I have instructed @TenteraDarat to begin asset movement for the new Field Hospital in Penang. The Field Hospital will have a capacity of 100 Beds for Cat 4 & 5 patients, along with 4 ICU Beds. 50 @MarkasATM personnel will be mobilised, additional from Hospital Pulau Pinang. pic.twitter.com/nxa3mzLG2Q

— Hishammuddin Hussein ?? (@HishammuddinH2O) September 14, 2021

The decision to establish the field hospital is in view of Penang Hospital being at critical capacity due to the rise in coronavirus cases.

During his visit to Penang on Saturday, Khairy said the ministry will discuss with the state’s private hospitals a proposal to rent their operating theatres so that surgeons at public medical facilities can perform high-risk surgeries, as the OTs at Penang Hospital are at full capacity.

Penang Adventist Hospital personnel told The Vibes that they are accepting non-Covid-19 cases from Penang Hospital and renting out OTs for surgery conducted by medical teams from public hospitals.

Penang has the highest Covid-19 death rate in the country, increasing from 16.5 fatalities per 100,000 population to 17. – The Vibes, September 14, 2021