Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sep 25: Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru, a key referral centre for patients from Dakshina Kannada and several neighbouring districts, is set for a major expansion with 200 additional beds, including 50 ICU beds, along with 195 new staff and additional equipment.
The state cabinet, which met in Mangaluru, approved the proposal to strengthen and upgrade the hospital by adding beds and facilities. The move seeks to address a long-standing demand, particularly as patients from Dakshina Kannada and several neighbouring districts depend on Wenlock for specialised treatment.
Although Wenlock has a sanctioned capacity of 905 beds, 1,088 beds are currently functioning. The already constructed critical care block will accommodate 50 beds, while another 74 beds will be added to the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) ward being constructed by MRPL. With these additions, the hospital’s bed strength will rise to 1,212.
Patients from 10 to 15 neighbouring districts, besides Kasaragod and other areas, seek treatment at Wenlock, which has increasingly been functioning as a regional hospital. Several departments, including orthopaedics, are facing space constraints. Patients, particularly from Dakshina Kannada, have also been facing shortages of ICU and other emergency facilities.
Against this backdrop, there had been a demand to increase Wenlock’s capacity to 1,500 beds and upgrade it as the ‘Wenlock Regional Super Speciality Hospital’.
The cabinet has now approved the addition of 200 beds in the first phase. A verbal assurance has also been given to increase the bed strength by another 200 in the second phase. This would take the total number of beds to 1,412 and is expected to meet the hospital’s immediate requirements.
50 ICU beds
Of the 200 proposed additional beds, 50 will be ICU beds, comprising 30 ventilated beds and 20 step-down beds. Another 10 beds will be earmarked for emergency treatment, while the remaining 140 will be general ward beds.
The additional ICU capacity is expected to provide significant relief to Wenlock, which faces a shortage of ICU beds on a daily basis. The 200 new beds will be accommodated in the new OPD building.
Along with the additional beds, 195 staff members will be provided, including 115 staff nurses, doctors, and other supporting personnel.
Cabinet-approved expansion
• Additional beds: 200
• ICU beds: 50
• Ventilated beds: 30
• Step-down beds: 20
• Emergency beds: 10
• General ward beds: 140
• Additional staff: 195
• Staff nurses: 115
“Our objective is to make all departments at Wenlock super-speciality departments. The capacity has now been increased by 200 beds, including 50 ICU beds. Ten beds will be provided for emergency treatment and 140 general ward beds, along with 195 staff. This will be of great benefit to patients,” said Dr Shivaprakash D S, medical superintendent, Government Wenlock Hospital.