For over a decade, the National Referral Hospital in Thimphu has been struggling with a bed shortage. The hospital management attributes this to a rise in elderly patients with chronic diseases needing longer treatment. However, the officials are looking forward to solving the problem when mother and child-related services are moved to Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital later this month.
Compared to other wards, it is the medical and surgical wards that experience cramped conditions.
The medical, surgical, orthopaedic and Ear, Nose and Throat or ENT wards each have a capacity of 36 beds. However, they are still facing a shortage of beds.
For now, the hospital has placed two additional stretchers in each ward to solve the problem. In times of congestion, the patients are moved to empty beds in other wards.
According to the medical superintendent, almost 80 per cent of the patients admitted to the hospital are elderly people with chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, kidney failure and liver diseases.
Health staff said the number of patients getting admitted is always higher than the ones discharged.
When the paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and neonatal intensive care unit are moved to the new Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital soon, the congestion at the national referral hospital is expected to solve.
“By looking at our progress, we are hoping to shift certain departments to the new Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital by the end of this month. Once we do that, we are expecting about 50 to 60 per cent of the bed shortage in this hospital will be solved. This will help patients and service delivery,” said Dr Sonam Tshering, the medical superintendent.
He added that they are currently testing and setting up the power supply at the mother and child hospital.
The medical superintendent further added that the national referral hospital will expand the wards and add more beds making it more spacious.
Namgay Dema
Edited by Tshering Zam
