Dakshina Kannada to add 100 more ventilator beds

MANGALURU: As Covid-19 cases rise and there is a need to strengthen critical care teams, amid fear of running short of ventilator beds, Dakshina Kannada (DK) district administration has decided to add 100 more ventilator beds by September end.
DK deputy commissioner KV Rajendra has decided to opt for a decentralized approach to ensure that ventilator beds are available in taluk hospitals. “ICU and ventilator beds are the need of the hour. We have a strategy and are working on it," DC told TOI.
The administration has created five ventilator beds and appointed anaesthetists in all taluk general hospitals. Oxygen supply is being established. Thus, at least 25 additional ventilator beds have been created away from Mangaluru and some of the taluks may have additional ventilator beds, he said.
The ICU strength in the district Wenlock Hospital is being expanded. “A 30-bed ventilator ICU will be set up on the first floor of the hospital and the district is also getting 21 PG doctors from the state government,” DC said.
Meanwhile, the community health centres of Ullal and Upninagady will be upgraded. “The plan is to create a 10-bed ventilator facility at these health centres," Rajendra said.
Dakshina Kannada has to cater to the needs of the neighbouring districts too. People from north Karnataka visit the district for medical treatment and patients from Kasargod are visiting for ventilator support. Hence, by the month-end, about 80-100 ventilator beds will be added, of which, around 60 ventilator beds will be added during the week.
Based on DC’s request, the government is planning to issue a direction to the Nursing Council to get the third year and fourth-year students back in their hospitals. Final year medical students are also coming back to assist, DC said.
Dr Farhan Fazal, consultant, infectious diseases, KMC Hospital said that Covid-19 patients who need hospitalization should not delay admissions as this could reduce numbers reaching the ICU. There could be a shortage of ICUs because there is no rapid turnover in the ICU. Once admitted, patients stay for long periods and hence new patients cannot get a bed.
“There is no doubt that we need more ventilators, but we also need more medical and paramedical staff. We are witnessing a shortage of manpower too. The need of the hour is to develop a good critical care team,” said Dr Jayaprakash consultant intensivist and associate professor and head, department of critical care medicine, Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences.