Mangaluru's Wenlock Hospital has issued a directive asking other health centres to confirm ICU bed availability before referring critically ill patients. The hospital, which has 116 ICU beds, including 21 Medical ICU and 27 Surgical ICU beds, has been facing a strain due to frequent unannounced referrals from district hospitals.
Background of the directive
According to hospital authorities, many district hospitals refer patients without prior intimation or confirming bed availability. This leads to overcrowding and mismanagement of resources at Wenlock Hospital, a major tertiary care centre in the region.
Impact on patient care
The lack of coordination often results in critically ill patients being diverted to other facilities or facing delays in receiving care. Wenlock Hospital officials emphasized that prior confirmation of bed availability is essential to ensure timely and appropriate treatment.
"We are not refusing patients, but we need to manage our resources effectively. Unannounced referrals disrupt our workflow and compromise patient care," said a senior hospital administrator.
Statistics and capacity
Wenlock Hospital operates a total of 116 ICU beds, distributed across various specialities. The Medical ICU has 21 beds, while the Surgical ICU has 27 beds. The remaining beds are allocated to other critical care units.
Call for coordination
The hospital has urged district health authorities to implement a referral protocol that includes checking bed availability through a centralized system. This step aims to streamline patient transfers and reduce the burden on Wenlock Hospital's ICU.
