Hospitals across the country have prepared everything for medical examination and treatment of emergency cases before and during the Tet (Lunar News Year) holiday period.

Duong Duc Hung, head of the Planning and Administration Office of Bach Mai Hospital, one of the busiest hospitals in the country, said that health staff were under a lot of pressure during the holiday given the increase of many illnesses from food and alcohol poisoning, traffic accidents, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Figures from the hospital's Poison Control Centre said that the centre has received two or three cases of alcohol poisoning on average since early this year. Some suffered brain damages and were still in a coma.

The number of patients would likely increase in the days near Tet due to the high consumption of alcohol.

Hung said the number of patients who came in for check-ups and treatment was about 3,000 to 4,000 each day. This year, the hospital has prepared four more check-up rooms and doctors specialising in heart diseases and X-rays would be mobilised to serve patients. Four teams of emergency services for outdoor patients have been set up to support local hospitals when needed.

At the Viet Nam-Germany Hospital, where most traffic accidents are handled, preparation work has been boosted.

Tran Binh Giang, deputy director of the hospital, said that up to 130 patients were hospitalised due to traffic accidents within three days of New Year Festival.

The number of patients would surely increase by between 15 per cent and 20 per cent this Tet. Thus, the hospital has mobilised more doctors to be on duty around the clock for emergency cases. All the doctors must be ready in case of special situations.

In the Central Paediatrics Hospital, Dr Le Thi Minh Huong, deputy director of the hospital, said that apart from maintaining the operation of check-up rooms, the hospital had set up an emergency team to support patients in serious conditions.

In the last days of this lunar year, the hospital will launch a music programme and present gifts for patients and their families. The hospital would prepare more blankets and heaters for patients in case of cold spells, he said.

Luu Thi Lien, deputy director of the municipal Department of Health, said that the health sector had been ready for emergency situations at crowded areas such as entertainment areas or spring fairs.

It also required public and private hospitals to have plans for mobilising health staff to assure medical services for patients.

Leaders of the hospitals would take responsibility for any complaints or shortcomings, she said.

Donations rise for poor patients during Tet

Poor patients with serious diseases in the central city of Da Nang's general hospital received VND200 million (US$8,900) in support from donors yesterday.

According to the hospital, 400 patients in the city and neighbouring provinces will stay at the hospital for prolonged treatment during Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday (February 7-14). 

VNS