Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic running rampant in Mumbai, patients with oxygen saturation levels (SPO2) of 85 to 90 are reportedly finding trouble getting admitted to private or civic-run hospitals.
It is said that most dedicated COVID-19 hospitals are not taking in patients with SPO2 levels of above 85. While on the other hand, the civic body’s jumbo COVID-19 facilities are only admitting patients who require SPO2 levels not lower than 92-93.
Naturally, this has caused quite a strain on this particular demographic of COVID-19 patients as civic staff at BMC’s dedicated COVID-19 war rooms are struggling to find beds for these patients at hospitals across the city.
A volunteer mentioned that some jumbo facilities are willing to make an exception for patients with SPO2 levels of under 92, though it usually takes multiple requests to get through. Additionally, the COVID-19 dashboard set up by the civic body is yet to be at full operational capacity, making things even more difficult for those handling the helplines.
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Dr Neelam Andrade, dean of the Nesco facility in Goregaon said - “As per protocol, we don’t admit patients with oxygen saturation levels below 92-93. More so, in cases of elderly with comorbid conditions. We don’t have an ICU here.” However, Andrade added that patients who don’t fit the SPO2 criterion are not sent back but kept in an 18-bed isolation area.
The chief medical officer at the jumbo COVID-19 facility at Bandra-Kurla Complex, Dr Rajesh Dere has said that they have treated patients SPO2 levels of below 92-93 though it was mostly for those with no comorbidities and are of a younger age.
He also mentioned that a lot depends on the doctor’s judgment on the ground with regard to admission. “If a 60-plus patient with comorbidities and SPO2 of 90-92 wants to come here, we recommend another centre as we don’t have an ICU,” Dere added.
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