Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry ofHealth has ordered hospitals across the country to prepare for new patients andmaintain good services for inpatients during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

The ministry requested all hospitals to provideimmediate first aid for severe emergencies, even if their injuries are notwithin the hospitals’ areas of expertise.

Only when the patients are out of criticalcondition should they be transferred to other hospitals, the ministry said in astatement.

All hospitals should have a clear patienttransport plan, especially for elderly patients with acute pneumonia andsuffering from sequelae of stroke, and children with respiratory diseases, itsaid.

The ministry also requested health departmentsacross the country to reinforce the service mindset at hospitals in their areasand remind medical staff to maintain good services for inpatients during theholiday.

Working shifts should be divided betweendoctors, nurses and staff at the hospitals’ departments of emergencyresuscitation and infection to ensure timely treatment for patients, theministry said.

“All hospitals must be open 24 hours per day andmake sure they have enough human resources, medicines, and medical equipment tohandle emergencies such as victims injured in traffic accidents, peoplesuffering from food poisoning, or mothers giving birth during the holiday,” itsaid in the statement.

Health centres and medical units should alsoprepare medicines, beds, and medical equipment in case of disease outbreaks, itadded.   

Nguyen Quoc Anh, Director of Bach Mai Hospitalin Hanoi, on January 22 asked all doctors at the hospital to evaluate theconditions of their patients and decide whether they should be hospitalised,with priority given to those in serious conditions.

The doctors should inform concerned personnel ofnew inpatients prior to their arrival, and of their arrival times for betterbed arrangement, he added.

“Do not, under any circumstances, pass patientsaround or create trouble for them and their family members,” he said.

Doctors at the hospital’s Artificial Kidney Unitwill be on duty all day long during the holiday to perform dialyses forpatients with kidney failure, Anh added.

The hospital’s leaders and doctors on February 1will pay a visit and give presents to the patients that will be staying overthe holiday, he said. Free meals will be provided for all inpatients andmedical staff during February 4-6, he added.

A total of 147 accidents occurred nationwideover the four-day New Year’s holiday (December 29, 2018 – January 1, 2019),claiming 110 lives and injuring 61 people.

During Tet last year, 195people died in traffic accidents while another 199 were injured,2018, with alcohol being the leading cause. About 810 people were hospitalisedduring that time due to alcohol poisoning.-VNS/VNA