KUCHING: The Health Ministry should investigate and address claims that the intensive care unit (ICU) at Sibu Hospital is overwhelmed.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii noted that frontliners at the hospital claimed that its ICU beds were full, forcing the hospital to transfer patients with poor prognosis from critical care to other wards to accommodate new cases.
“First and foremost, the ministry must properly investigate these allegations to address them properly and provide the required support in both supplies of basic medical equipment and manpower, and not punish the whistle blowers.
“These frontliners have been working for more than a year to care for us during the pandemic,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday (April 23).
Dr Yii also expressed concern on the data reporting by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) which was contradicted by the source.
“Based on the frontliner’s claim, there are currently 27 Covid-19 patients in Sibu Hospital’s ICU, which contradicts the SDMC’s report that stated there are only 12 active Covid-19 cases in ICU statewide, including five in Sibu.
“This for me need proper investigation because such reporting of data must be transparent, honest and clear in order to instil confidence in the public and not create unnecessary perceptions that some things are being covered up,” he said.
He also pointed out that while Sibu Hospital’s ICU is at the brim, the hospital is still required to accommodate non Covid-19 patients in intensive care.
“We must remember that Sibu Hospital is a ‘hybrid hospital’ where non-Covid-19 patients are still treated. This puts a lot of stress on the system and our medical professionals.
“Our frontliners need the support from the ministry immediately. I demand the ministry to reveal the progress of the 430 health personnel that will be sent to Sarawak to assist in our Covid-19 response,” he said.
He added that if need be, the Ministry should mobilise even more to cater for the increasing need of such personnel in Sarawak.
