Patna: A sharp rise in critically ill patients has been reported at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) as severe cold conditions continue across the region. Hospital authorities said the emergency department is witnessing an increasing number of patients suffering from heart ailments, paralysis and breathing-related complications, many of whom are also reporting elevated blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
Due to the surge in cases, doctors and healthcare workers remained on high alert on Tuesday. As many as 42 new patients were admitted across the emergency and other departments during the day. The situation inside the emergency ward remained chaotic as a large number of patients and attendants crowded the limited space.
No beds available in emergency ward
Healthcare staff said all beds in the emergency ward are currently occupied, leaving no space for new admissions. Attendants have been repeatedly requesting doctors during rounds to shift stable patients to wards so that beds can be freed for incoming critical cases.
On Tuesday, nearly 1,600 patients visited the outpatient departments (OPDs) of NMCH across various specialties. The medicine department alone recorded 286 patients. Department head Dr Prof Ajay Kumar Sinha said the majority of emergency admissions involved patients with paralysis, respiratory distress and heart-related conditions.
He advised patients and their families to take diabetes and blood pressure medications regularly under medical supervision, undergo routine check-ups, maintain proper diet, and avoid unnecessary outdoor movement during extreme cold.
Patients admitted on extra beds and trolleys
With no vacant beds available, patients were admitted on additional beds placed in corridors and passageways of the emergency ward. Several patients were also accommodated on trolleys, while some sat on the floor waiting for beds to be vacated.
Hospital staff said that beds freed after shifting patients to wards were being allotted to those waiting on the floor. To protect patients from the cold, more than two blankets were being provided, and blowers and heaters have been installed at various locations.
Emergency ward overcrowded beyond capacity
The emergency department in the old NMCH building is officially approved for 30 beds. However, more than 50 patients are currently being treated by placing extra beds in rooms and corridors, raising concerns over safety norms being openly violated.
Hospital administrators and doctors said that considering the growing patient load, there is an urgent need to construct a new emergency facility with a capacity of at least 200 beds. They added that the matter has been repeatedly communicated to the health department, stressing the need for immediate action amid recurring seasonal surges in patient numbers.
