Kolkata: Covid wards fill up at private hospitals, some add beds – ET HealthWorld

KOLKATA: The trickle of Covid patients across Kolkata’s private hospitals has gained momentum over last five days since the end of Durga Puja and could be the first indication of a spike in cases, fear doctors and hospitals who are keeping fingers crossed apprehending a sudden jump in the number of admissions over the next one week. While some have already extended their Covid units, several others are planning an extension for the first time since the second wave as beds are being taken up fast.

Positivity rate, too, has gone up marginally in some hospitals. The hospitals had reduced the number of Covid beds after the second wave waned.

All Covid beds at Belle Vue Clinic were taken up on Monday. The hospital has now extended its Covid ward from a 23-bed one to 47 beds. Twenty of these are critical care beds. “We had less than 10 patients till Saturday. It has shot up to 23 now and we expect the rise to continue over the next one week. So, we have already extended the ward and are ready for further extension,” said CEO P Tondon.

Peerless Hospital has 33 patients in its 40-bed Covid ward but expects the ward to be fully occupied by this weekend. “The number of daily admissions has been around 4-5 since the end of the Pujas. Fortunately, the number of discharges has been same so we haven’t faced a shortage of beds yet. But this could change between Lakshmi Puja and Diwali — the period when the impact of the Puja crowding would be evident. We are ready to add an extra ward,” said Peerless CEO Sudipta Mitra.

At CMRI Hospital, its 18-bed Covid unit got fully occupied on Monday. While the number of patients remained below 10 till the Pujas, a spurt in admissions post-puja has seen all beds being taken up. “There has been a rise in Covid admissions. We have 18 patients admitted now and are keeping a close watch on the situation. If required, we might increase the number of beds soon,” said Simmardeep Gill, COO, CK Birla Hospitals.

Medica Superspecialty Hospital has 30 Covid beds, of which 22 are now occupied. “We haven’t seen a spurt in patients as yet. In case there’s one by next week, we are ready to add beds,” said Medica chairperson Alok Roy.

At RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, the positivity rate of patients getting tested for Covid has shot up to 6%-7% since the beginning of Puja. “Prior to that, it was around 3%-4%,” said RTIICS zonal head R Venkatesh.

At ILS Hospital, the number of patients shot up to 38 on Tuesday from 27 at the beginning of the Pujas. “We have more new admissions lined up,” said ILS vice-president Debasish Dhar.
RTIICS now has 29 Covid patients, including nine in critical care.

Positivity rate has spiked from around 5% to 10% at Peerless Hospital, said Mitra.