Close to a dozen people were seen waiting at the isolated Ambulance Bay of the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday, waiting to get tested for the H1N1 virus. And as the numbers of patients increased, hospital staff were unable to perform tests in a quick manner. One parent, whose son was awaiting testing, shouted: "You know how long I (expletive) waiting for someone to see my son. This is (expletive) stupidness!" He even threatened media personnel who were taking photographs and video footage of the crowded sick bay. Around noon, the hospital's medical director Dr Stephen Ramroop appealed to members of the public not to panic.
He said as swine flu deaths climbed, more and more people were rushing into the hospital, fearful that they had contracted the virus. "Most of the people have the common cold and they are running to casualty," Ramroop said. "There is now an influx at the casualty. I want to let people know that we will not be testing everybody." "A cold is going about and people have to wait and monitor their illness. If they are getting body pains and shortness of breath, then they can come to the hospital and get tested. If they have just a normal cold, they have to stay at home and treat it."
However, several people who were waiting at the isolated Ambulance Bay said they were unhappy at the slow pace of prognosis. Dillon Morris, of Penal, said his son Darryl Morris fell ill on Friday. He said Darryl was taken to a private doctor who prescribed medication. However, he said when Darryl's condition worsened, he decided to come to the hospital. "I got here after 8 am and it is now 11 am," Morris said. "We are just waiting and waiting here and nobody is coming to see about us. We have over a dozen people here and nobody is getting tested."
About the virus:
?High risk categories:
Pregnant women. Children under five years of age. People with chronic medical conditions, including asthma and other lung conditions. Sickle cell anaemia. Heart disease. Diabetes. Obesity. HIV/Aids. Any other condition
affecting the immune system.
Guidelines:
Wash your hands often with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow instead of into your hands and properly dispose of the tissue. Avoid contact with people who have respiratory illnesses. Seek medical assistance if you show any of the following emergency warning signs.
In children:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing. Not drinking enough fluids. Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held. Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough. Fever with a rash.
In adults:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen. Sudden dizziness. Confusion. Severe or persistent vomiting.