Unwavering commitment on New Year's Eve
Associate Professor and Doctor Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the A9 Emergency Center at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, shared that nearly 40 medical staff from the center, alongside 160 colleagues from other departments, were on duty during New Year's Eve.
Dr. Tuan, who was tasked with overseeing the hospital's primary emergency team that evening, emphasized that the A9 Emergency Center serves as a leading facility for critical care, operating 24/7 every day of the year.
Medical staff work relentlessly, often without breaks, as they care for patients on the threshold between life and death.
On the afternoon of Lunar New Year's Eve, the center had prepared a year-end meal for its staff, but the high volume of patients left little time for anyone to eat.
Many previous New Year's Eves have passed with the medical team unable to even notice the moment of transition into the New Year, only realizing the time after finishing their duties.
Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, noted that the cold weather this year led to an increase in emergency cases, particularly among elderly patients suffering from pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and strokes.
In just 24 hours, the hospital received 262 emergency cases, including 41 critical stroke patients who required immediate intervention.
For the Year of the Snake celebrations, Bach Mai Hospital mobilized 1,000 medical staff to be on duty, with a focus on critical departments such as the A9 Emergency Center, the Stroke Center, Intensive Care, and Cardiology.
To support both patients and staff during the holiday, the hospital arranged Tet meals, distributed essential items, and ensured access to warm blankets, hot water, and other necessities to maintain comfort and a festive atmosphere.
Moments of reflection before the New Year
At the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, early on New Year's Eve, the Emergency Department admitted a 21-year-old male patient in critical condition due to a traffic accident.
The patient, from a rural district in Tuyen Quang, had no relatives accompanying him when he arrived.
Dr. Than Manh Hung, Deputy Head of the Emergency Department, immediately activated a "red alert" to mobilize surgical and trauma teams for an urgent operation.
At 4 AM, Dr. Hung managed to briefly contact the patient’s father in Tuyen Quang to inform him of the emergency surgery, which had to proceed without delay.
Administrative staff quickly handled necessary paperwork while the surgical team prepared within just one hour to save the young man’s life.
Dr. Hung explained that waiting for the family’s consent would have cost the patient his life.
The young man’s family finally arrived at the hospital later that day.
A bittersweet reality in emergency care
At Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Dr. Ngo Duc Hung from the Emergency Department reflected on the unique emotions of working through the transition from the old year to the new.
The blend of joy and sorrow is ever-present in the emergency ward, where life and death collide.
That afternoon, doctors decided to transfer a young patient to a lower-level facility.
The patient suffered from an autoimmune condition that caused the body to attack its own connective tissues, leading to gradual physical decline.
While such decisions are never easy, the doctors explained that they must often steel their hearts to focus on those they can still save.
As another year begins, these moments remind us of the sacrifices made by medical professionals, quietly working through the most festive nights to safeguard the lives of others.
Phuong Thuy