Iloilo City hospitals running out of COVID-19 beds, staff

The surge in COVID-19 cases in Iloilo City has once again overwhelmed hospitals which are now running out of beds and medical staff.

According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, almost all hospitals in Iloilo City are at their full capacity as COVID-19 cases in the metro continue to rise.

Based on data from the City Health Office (CHO) as of May 25, 2021, nine hospitals in the city are taking care of 189 positive patients and 101 suspected cases.

Beds dedicated for Covid-19 patients in the following hospitals – Medical City Iloilo, Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital, Saint Paul’s Hospital Iloilo, Iloilo Mission Hospital, Qualimed, and Metro Iloilo Hospital – have run out because of the surge in cases.

As of Wednesday, there are only 11 available COVID-19 beds in city hospitals, particularly at Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) with six available beds; Seamen’s Hospital Iloilo (3), and one available bed each at Medicus and West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC).

Meanwhile, hospital beds for non-COVID cases remain sufficient with 294 available beds, according to the CHO.

Aside from the hospital beds, the rising cases also took a toll on the number of medical staff, particularly nurses.

The alarming state of the hospitals prompted Treñas to seek help from the Department of Health (DOH).

The mayor said he personally sent a message to DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III informing him of the lack of hospital rooms and nurses.

“I sent a message to Sec. Duque to inform him that we are having problems in hospital rooms. There are patients who cannot be admitted. We also need nurses for the hospitals since many are already infected. We are hoping for their assistance during this difficult time,” Treñas said on Thursday.

As of May 24, active cases in Iloilo City climbed to 1,104 (44%), 1,324 recoveries (53%), and 61 deaths (3%). (ERS)