The number of in-patients at HCM City Paediatrics Hospital No.1 has increased to a 10-year high, with 2,099 as of this week. Speaking at a press meeting on October 5, Ngo Ngoc Quang Minh, head of the hospital's General Planning Department, said the hospital had only 1,400 beds. Sixty-five percent of the patients are from outside HCM City. The number of out-patients also rose, from an average of more than 5,200 patients per day in early September, to 6,200 patients per day. Minh attributed the surge in the number of patients to an increase in cases of dengue fever, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and respiratory diseases. The number of in-patients with dengue fever in September increased twofold compared to August, he said. Last week, nearly 60 patients with dengue fever were hospitalised. In August, the hospital reported a weekly average of 25-30 in-patients with dengue fever. The number of in-patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease in September rose threefold compared to August. Last week, nearly 300 patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease were hospitalised. In August, the number of in-patients with the disease ranged from 80-90. In September, the hospital reported more than 400 in-patients with dengue fever, including 120 serious cases. Three children died. The number of in-patients with respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia has also increased significantly over the last two months. To cope with severe overcrowding, the hospital has installed fans and upgraded areas along corridors, adding 150 beds for in-patients, said Le Bich Lien, deputy director of the hospital. The emergency room has added 12 beds to serve more patients. In the health check-up department, doctors and nurses have had to work during the noon break from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm to serve the increasing number of patients.-VNA