So far, the hospital has not received any Covid-19 patient.
The AIIMS Trauma Centre has been converted into a dedicated hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. According to officials, the Trauma Centre has 242 beds, which will be increased to 260. Meanwhile, a 2,000-bed facility is set to come up at Lok Nayak and GB Pant hospitals — which are under Maulana Azad Medical College. A special ward with 54 rooms is already in place at Lok Nayak Hospital and a 200-bed facility is operational.
The AIIMS administration has shifted existing patients at the Trauma Centre to the main campus in a phased manner.
“All patients from the centre have been shifted to the respective departments in the main AIIMS building. Emergency patients coming to the Trauma Centre will be directed to the main building. Over the last few days, accident cases have drastically reduced; the last batch of patients from the Trauma Centre were shifted to the main campus on Sunday,” said Dr Amit Lathwal, medical superintendent of the hospital.
According to sources at AIIMS, training of all healthcare workers started a month ago and they will work on a rotational basis.
The medical institute had shut OPD services on March 23. On March 18, AIIMS had sent an advisory to OPD patients with appointments booked for the next one month requesting them to postpone the same. “In view of the increasing threat of coronavirus infection, you are requested to postpone your appointment at AIIMS if it is not urgent in nature. This is for your safety and good health,” stated the order.
The hospital has also curtailed elective surgeries from March 20 and research staff has been advised to work from home. Further, a screening area has been developed for patients showing symptoms of respiratory tract infections.
Dr J C Passey, medical director, Lok Nayak Hospital, said: “The hospital’s emergency block is already functioning as a COVID-19 management centre, with 250 beds. The new surgical block has around 300 beds, the new medicine block has 250 beds and we are working to add the orthopaedic block too for patients. We are also including GB Pant Hospital for managing patients.”
A five-member panel formed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also suggested that two state-run hospitals — Lok Nayak and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital — be converted into designated COVID-19 centres. At Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, 400 beds have been set aside already.
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