Hospitals need their patience

By Cai Wenjun  |   2008-7-9  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

AS the temperatures rose, the number of patients requiring out-patient or emergency treatment also rose. The 102 major city hospitals treated an average of 234,700 patients daily between July 1 and July 4.

On July 1, 256,800 patients were admitted in the 102 hospitals, a third more than on the same day last year, the Shanghai Health Bureau said yesterday.

Among the 23 city-based hospitals, 11 treated more than 5,000 patients each day from July 1 to 4. Huashan Hospital had the largest number of patients at an average of 8,950 each day, peaking at 9,737 on July 1.

The health bureau has asked all medical facilities to institute proper measures for the increased workload by having more staff rostered on night shifts, opening more windows for registration and accounts and extending out-patient timetables to help patients.

While most people are seeking treatment for heat-related illnesses at hospitals, others are going to hospitals to prepare them for a healthy winter.

Clinics offering summer cures for winter diseases such as respiratory ailments and arthritis are now packed with patients every day.

"This is a traditional clinic that runs from mid-June to mid-September in our hospital.

"Most patients are children and the elderly suffering from chronic respiratory ailments," said Dr Chen Ronghuan of the Longhua Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

"Diseases that attack in winter because of low temperatures can be helped in summer, when special treatments that use high temperatures are introduced to strengthen people's immunity and treat diseases caused by 'coldness' and 'dampness.'"

Experts from Shuguang TCM Hospital said its summer clinic has started to attract several young and middle-aged office workers who have become sick by the long-term use of air conditioners and over-indulgence in cold drinks.

Shuguan's summer clinic has so far seen more than 2,500 patients - over 500 patients a day.