Uttar Pradesh: Kids shifted to pediatric intensive care unit as children hospital chokes in Prayagraj

PRAYAGRAJ: With a spike in viral, dengue, typhoid and malaria cases, 15 children were on Tuesday shifted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Swarup Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital as there were no beds left at Sarojini Naidu Children Hospital.

Dr Mukesh Veer Singh, head of the pediatric department at children hospital, told TOI that there are 120 beds at SRN Children Hospital and a total of 170 children were admitted till Monday.

Admitting that there was no space to admit children at SRN Children Hospital, he said, “As the number of beds was limited and more than one kid was being treated on a single bed, we have decided to shift some patients to the new PICU ward at SRN hospital,” he said, adding that parents and attendants are being convinced to shift children to PICU ward.

The 100-bed PICU ward with oxygen facility has set up on the SRN campus in anticipation of the possible third wave.

Due to surge in viral cases, authorities of the district administration, CMO and MLN Medical College have agreed to admit kids suffering from various ailments to the PICU ward.

With the shifting of 15 children to the PICU ward, a total of 155 children are left at the children's hospital. Doctors claimed that the children admitted to SRN Children Hospital are suffering from various ailments, including typhoid, malaria, hepatitis, diarrhea, and fever. There was only one case of dengue, who was discharged on Monday.

Dr Singh said pediatricians have been assigned duty at both children hospital and PICU ward for better care of children. Chief Medical Officer (Prayagraj) has also allotted some pediatricians to both the hospitals.