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Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Emergency Department and Ambulance Service have an effective plan implemented to attend potential emergencies during the Eid Al Adha holidays.
Many emergency service staff and ambulances are on standby and necessary steps have been taken to ensure the smooth delivery of services as people enjoy a long weekend, said officials.
Assistant Executive Director of the Ambulance Service, Ali Darwish, speaking to The Peninsula yesterday, said that based on previous occasions Ambulance Service receives an approximate of 10-15% increase in number of daily calls during Eid holidays and an effective plan is set to provide people with easy access to effective care.
“The operations of the Ambulance Service are very dynamic and can be changed to cope with any emergency situation,” said Darwish.
He said that 169 ambulances, five vehicles with critical care paramedics, bicycles, golf carts are on standby across the country based on data gathered throughout previous Eid holidays about accidents prone areas and analysed by a computer system. Three Lifeflights of the Ambulance Service also will be transporting more critical cases.
“We have nine field supervisors who will analyze any road traffic accident or emergency situation and will accordingly distribute ambulances immediately,” said Darwish.
According to him more ambulances will be deployed at places which are predicted to attract more people and traffic such as beach areas in Sealine, Gahariya, Al Wakra, Semaisima and the Corniche. Bicycles and golf carts are assigned at places like the Souq Waqif, Aspire Zone and Katara.
“We have also units deployed at the Hamad International Airport and at the Abu Samra border as we are expecting GCC visitors coming by road during the holidays,” said Darwish.
Darwish assured that 115 vehicles will be deployed during the holidays season to serve community service, including supported discharge (e.g. IV antibiotics, dressings at home), transferring patients from one facility to another, long term care for housebound elderly patients and services at fixed facilities will continue as normal.
He said that on average, per day, the Ambulance Service receive 700 calls related to emergency cases for non-emergency services.
While the Emergency Departments across HMC is well prepared to provide its services during the upcoming Eid holidays, said Dr. Anukush Suresh Pathare, Vice Chairman of Emergency Medicine.
“Our main goal is to ensure that operations are not affected and patients are given the best care. If it is required we can even bring in extra physicians,” said Dr. Pathare. “The team at the HGH Emergency Department as well as across HMC’s network of hospitals such as in Al Wakra, Al Khor, and Cuban Hospital will continue to provide the highest level of patient care throughout holidays,” he added.
Patients have been urged to visit their designated primary health centres for non-emergency health problems.
