PGI all set to get a new critical care block

At present, two major projects, the Neurosciences Centre and the Mother and Child Care Centre are expected to be operational this year. Work on both projects had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Rai, the Critical Care Block is a strategically important project for the institute and has been under planning for a considerable time. “The facility is expected to significantly benefit patients requiring specialised and intensive care,” he said.

The project was conceptualised during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the institute faced an unprecedented surge of critically ill patients. At the time, several departments and the Nehru Extension Block had to be converted into COVID care facilities to manage the crisis.

Once functional, the new Critical Care Block will cater to patients requiring intensive monitoring and advanced life support, including those arriving at the emergency and trauma centres in critical condition. Experts believe that in the event of a future pandemic or similar public health emergency, the facility will play a crucial role in managing patient load efficiently.

The Critical Care Block will function as a multi-speciality centre equipped with intensive care units (ICUs), step-down units (SDUs), isolation wards, oxygen-supported beds and surgical units. It will also include two labour rooms, delivery and recovery rooms, and a dedicated unit for neonatal care and related conditions.

Hospital officials said that patients from any department who require advanced critical care and close monitoring will be referred to this block, allowing other clinical areas to function more effectively.