AIIMS Delhi adds 100 beds in 'Burns and Plastic Block' and turns into COVID 19 facility

As the number of coronavirus cases is on a constant rise in the capital  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been under a spotlight for the lack of available beds for coronavirus patients.

To meet the rising demand, and the future predictions by health experts, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi has decided to convert its newly constructed 'Burns and Plastic Block' into a COVID 19 facility.

The arrangements will be finalized by the end of this week. 

Also read: Delhi added 10,000 coronavirus cases in just eight days from June 1

The decision comes after Kejriwal recently rolled back his order of not allowing patients from other states to come to Delhi for treatment, and forecasted that Delhi would need 1.5 lakh beds in healthcare facilities by July 31, once people from other neighbouring states would start coming to the city for treatment.

Presently, AIIMS has almost 250 beds available at its apex trauma centre. The burns and plastic block will be able to accommodate atleast 100 more beds.

Also Read: COVID-19 will increase significantly in Delhi, warns CM Kejriwal

"We are increasing healthcare facilities for coronavirus patients. Hence, we are working to start burns and plastic block into a dedicated COVID-19 treatment centre. This will create overall 350 beds (including 250 beds at the trauma centre and 100 beds at burns and plastic block) for virus-infected patients."Burns and plastic block was near completion. Some minor work needs to be completed. It will have 30 ICU beds and 70 beds in the general ward", said Dr DK Sharma, Medical Superintendent at AIIMS.

The state government is expecting almost 5.5 lakh total COVID-19 cases.

AIIMS is alos planning to shift all experts from the non-COVID wards to the COVID facilities, to meet the rising demand.