Delhi healthcare workers at hospitals are pressurized due to the rapid and highest spike in coronavirus cases. An up surge in patients and colleagues who are testing positive for COVID-19 even after a long year of battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Many healthcare workers are talking of the mental strain that is involved as they are facing a fresh and extraordinary surge even after more than a year since the start of pandemic.

Dr Arif Sohaib, who is an anaesthetist in South Delhi said that it is more than a year since the pressure is still rising. Around February, the medical staff were quite psychologically uplifted as the number of cases were dropping, and they were receiving vaccines. But suddenly things took a sharp turn for the worse and everyone was exhausted.

In Delhi’s large COVID care hospitals, healthcare workers are being overworked. According to an updated order that was issued by the state health department, almost 14 private hospitals are required to reserve at least 3,553 beds out of available 4,337 beds for COVID-19 patients. Also, the 14 hospitals are allowed to increase bed capacity up to 35% temporarily and extra beds can be utilised for treatment of non-Covid patients.

Dr S P Byotra, chairman of department of internal medicine in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said that the current situation has put a lot of strain on healthcare resources, both financially and manpower. The expanding capacities, particularly in ICU, prepare each bed with resources and get the nurses and doctors to attend to them. The caps on COVID-19 treatment (Rs 8,000- 10,000 for isolation beds; Rs 13,000- 15,000 for ICU beds without ventilator support; and Rs 15,000- 18,000 for ICU beds with ventilator support) puts a lot of strain on private hospitals. As the human resources are running thin, it is very difficult for hospitals to manage. It is a national calamity, and everything hast o be done to manage it.

RML Nurses Union secretary, Santha Sivarajan, said that the number of coronavirus cases among healthcare workers has risen.In the last month, 35-40 nursing staff were tested positive. Besides that, there are others who are isolated at home astheir family members tested positive. Hence, there is staff shortage. The hospital has OPDs functioning but staff are highly exposed over there as people are travelling by public transport and many people are not wearing masks.

A nursing officer at Rajeev Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital said that the workload of nursing staff has increased up to 10 hours a week, and the pressure is higher than the last year’s peak in November.

Source: The Indian Express