Despite BMC maintaining it has enough supply, key civic hospital moves COVID patients on the last dregs of oxygen to neighbouring facilities in the nick of time
Ambulances were seen taking Bhagwati patients elsewhere on Friday. Pic/Satej Shinde
Contrary to the civic body’s claims of enough stock of oxygen in its hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients, the BMC-run Bhagwati hospital in Borivli had to hurriedly shift patients to neighbouring medical facilities after it nearly ran out of oxygen. Ambulances were seen carrying patients out of the hospital on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Road, accompanied by the hospital staff in PPE kits. While the authorities said only 10 patients were moved elsewhere, local Shiv Sena leader Abhishek Ghosalkar claimed the figure was 20.
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Bhagwati officials called the move a precautionary measure, saying their daily quota oxygen got delayed.
As per the BMC, civic hospitals are supplied with 235 metric tonnes of oxygen every day and that it has additional resources in place. Officials said they have written to the state government to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Hospital superintendent Shantaram Kawde said the problem would be resolved quickly and that only 10 patients were moved to BMC-run Shatabdi Hospital. “There was a delay in the transport of the supply and we will soon get the stock. While the patients that have been shifted will continue to be treated at the respective hospital, the beds vacated by them will house new patients,” said the official.
An ambulance waits at Bhagwati hospital in Borivli to transfer COVID patients elsewhere. Pic/Satej Shinde
Ghosalkar cited information from Bhagwati doctors to counter the claim. “The supply has not completely dried up but is on the verge of running out and there is a delay from the supplier’s end to refill the oxygen. While the stock can last for just one day, the authorities have moved 20-odd patients to Shatabdi hospital, Dahisar Jumbo centre and Jogeshwari Trauma Care hospital.” Ghosalkar said more patients might have to be shifted out of Bhagwati if the supply is not restored by Saturday.
235 MT
Daily oxygen quota of civic hospitals
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