Union: Covid-19 situation at hospitals 'chaotic' in Ankara

Ankara City Hospital (Photo: AA/File)

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Ankara, Turkey's capital, is "experiencing chaos in health services" amid a recent surge in new coronavirus cases, according to the Health Laborers Union (SES).

There are currently about 3,500 Covid-19 patients in the city, with 2,000 having tested positive and 1,500 suspicious cases, the union's Ankara branch said in a statement. Nearly 200 of the patients are in intensive care units, it added.

Following a sharp increase in the number of patients who need critical care, the Ministry of Health stopped announcing intensive care figures late July.

The biggest failure of the government during the pandemic was not taking preventive and protective measures correctly, including contact tracing activities, the union said.

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"While the world is talking about the second wave, the number of cases in our country still being in thousands is an indication that the first wave cannot be overcome.

"While the average number of inpatient treatment applications in Ankara was 3 million per month, it decreased to 600 thousand in the first three months of the pandemic, the acceleration that started with 800 thousand after May increased rapidly and closed to the normal period numbers.

"While the intensive care bed occupancy rate was above 75 percent during the pandemic, today, no vacant places can be found in intensive care and normal services in some hospitals in our province."

Because there are no available beds for Covid-19 patients, some patients who need to be hospitalized are kept waiting at emergency services.

"Patients who are diagnosed are sent home with medication if their symptoms are mild, and some patients whose symptoms get worse over time lose their lives due to late intervention even if they apply to the hospital again," the SES added.

The union further said that due to the increase in home treatment, the family healthcare centers need to deal with 35 to 45 patients or people contacted with patients on average, noting that there are a total of 1,700 family healthcare centers in the capital. (AS/VK)