UAE | Health
Psychiatric patients moved to escape heat
Patients at a psychiatric hospital have had to be moved from ward to ward after the air conditioning in the hospital failed almost two weeks ago, to keep them cool in the hot weather.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:09 July 8, 2008
Dubai: Patients at a psychiatric hospital have had to be moved from ward to ward after the air conditioning in the hospital failed almost two weeks ago, to keep them cool in the hot weather.
The central air conditioning (a/c) system in Al Amal Hospital in Al Wasl ran out of coolant on June 26. Work to fix the problem is ongoing, but in the meantime, the hospital has had to move patients around in the 25-year-old hospital.
Dr Saleha Thiban, director of the hospital, told Gulf News they would continue moving the patients until work was done.
"Putting in the coolant is not fully finished yet. We have to move patients to other wards that are cooler [in the meantime]," she said.
"Unfortunately, this happened during the hot season. It is a crisis but we're used to working in crises," she added.
To make sure the patients have respite from the heat, Dr Saleha said the Health Ministry, which runs the hospital, has provided mobile a/c units and split a/c units to ensure patients' comfort at all times. The units will be used as a backup system in case the central system failed again.
No heat exhaustion
The 80-bed hospital houses mentally-ill patients as well as drug addicts undergoing treatment.
Dr Ahmad Al Hashimi, CEO of the Dubai Medical District, said they had no choice but to move patients around while they fixed the air conditioning.
"What can we do? We can't discharge them," he said. He added there have been no reports of heat exhaustion or other heat-related illnesses so far.
"There were complaints [about the heat] on the first day, but that's it," he said.
Unfortunately, this happened during the hot season. It is a crisis but we're used to working in crises."
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