Doha: The number of cases seen at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Emergency Departments and attended by the Ambulance Service during the three days of Eid Al Adha has reduced compared to previous years and none were critical, said officials.
The Emergency Department at Hamad General Hospital (HGH) and Al Wakra Hospital have seen a total of 3,191 cases for different conditions. The Ambulance Service attended 1,349 calls in the last two days of Eid.
The number of cases seen during the Eid Al Adha, has reduced as a result several reasons as awareness created among the public regarding the use of emergency services, following preventive measures against COVID-19 and others.
“The number of cases seen at the Emergency Department has reduced, in comparison to previous years. This is due to the awareness created among the public about use of emergency services. For non-emergency conditions they go to health centres,” Dr. Galal Saleh Al Essai, Vice-Chairman for Corporate Affairs, Department of Emergency Medicine at HMC told The Peninsula.
“Cases received both at HGH and Al Wakra Emergency Department were not serious or critical and most of them were simple or routine ones related to digestive and respiratory problems. Among them very few were admitted for continues treatment and others were treated and sent back home.
“As we were well prepared to receive patients during the Eid holidays everything was smooth. The team with specialised doctors, nurses and paramedics, we ensure that operations are not affected and patients are given the best care,” he added.
On the third day of Eid, a total of 800 emergency cases were treated at the Hamad General Hospital and 423 cases at the Al Wakra Hospital. Only 27 patients were admitted to the hospital for further treatment.
While, the Ambulance Service has attended 668 calls on the third day of Eid. Among those, 13 were due to road traffic accidents and 63 due to other accidents. The Ambulance Service has also attended 592 medical emergency cases. Two people were transferred by air ambulance to hospital, according to aid Ali Darwish, Assistant Executive Director of the Ambulance Service.
“Number of cases have definitely reduced compared to previous years. This could be due to the COVID-19 restrictions, though we are in the third phase of relaxing restrictions, many people still prefer to stay indoors,” he said.
The Pediatric Emergency Centers of HMC have received a total of 524 cases, yesterday. Among them nine were COVID-19 suspected cases and all are being tested, said Dr. Mohamed Al Amri, the Acting Chairman of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Centers at HMC. “All suspected COVID-19 cases were swabbed and transferred to home isolation and waiting for results,” he said.
Dr. Al Amri also clarified that any suspected COVID-19 case will be taken through a different patient pathway and seen at a segregated area at all Pediatric Emergency Centers of HMC. All others were mild and moderate cases due to common pediatric health problems.
