Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Aug 20: A state-of-the-art critical care (trauma care) unit will be established at Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru within the next few months, aimed at providing immediate and comprehensive treatment to patients admitted in life-threatening conditions, including accident victims.
The new critical care unit is being developed with modern medical facilities to ensure prompt treatment for patients requiring intensive care. It will benefit those suffering from serious injuries, breathing difficulties, cardiac conditions, burns, and other emergencies requiring immediate medical attention. Although such treatment is currently available at the hospital, there is no comprehensive facility under one roof.
The unit is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 24 crore, with Rs 16.63 crore sanctioned under the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and Rs 7.37 crore provided by the state government.
Wenlock District Hospital caters not only to patients from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts but also to people from various parts of Karnataka and neighbouring states. In view of the growing demand for a dedicated critical care facility, the hospital authorities had submitted a proposal to the state government. Following discussions in the cabinet, approval was granted for the construction of an advanced critical care unit.
The construction work has already commenced and is being expedited. The facility is expected to be opened for public use within two to three months.
The new three-storey critical care unit will have around 50 beds and will include accident and emergency care, a medical ICU, surgical ICU, burn treatment facilities, emergency rooms, dialysis facilities, observation beds, a general operation theatre, blood storage room, laboratory, X-ray and ultrasound facilities, a high dependency unit (HDU), doctors’ rooms, isolation ICU, and registration facilities.
The unit is being developed in the old laundry area of the hospital. The ground floor is also planned to have a facility for arranging and storing medicines. At present, emergency treatment is provided in the casualty section of the old hospital building. The new dedicated block is being established to ensure faster and more efficient treatment for critically ill and trauma patients.
The facility can also be used as a dedicated block for treating patients in the event of a future pandemic similar to Covid-19. Initially, it will function as a trauma block providing emergency care for accident victims, head injuries, heart attacks, and other critical conditions.
“The critical care unit is being constructed adjacent to the post-mortem room. If an infectious disease pandemic similar to Covid-19 occurs in the future, the facility can function as an isolated hospital. For now, it will be used as a trauma block. The construction is expected to be completed within around two to three months,” said Dr Shivaprakash, superintendent of Wenlock District Hospital.