The Dubai Health Authority (DHA)Dubai Health Authority (DHA) sanctioned Dh1 billion budget for the expansion, which includes restructuring of the complex building, construction of more units, expansion of the existing ones as well as increasing the number of beds from the current 545 to up to 700. Established in 1973 with 454 beds, the hospital has seen a steady increase in the number of outpatients and trauma cases, according to Dr Younis Kazim, director, Medical Affairs.

"According to the new plan, a new building will be constructed to accommodate the rush of patients," said Dr Kazim while presenting a brief overview of the growth of the hospital and future plans. "Trauma and general surgery cases have seen a particular increase," he said. "We have referrals coming from all over the region and country, including those from the government and private hospitals."

Three months ago, at least 50 cases were waiting to be admitted each day. Though the number has fallen to 15-20 patients in the recent days, it has not decreased the burden on the hospital.

With a 100 per cent occupancy rate, the hospital administration has to ?take major decisions to save lives, ?including discharging patients before their full recovery. "This is a big ?challenge for us," said Dr Kazim. "To reduce the existing load, we have been referring a number of stable cases to other hospitals such as Dubai Hospital and Al Wasl Hospital."

Plans were under way to expand the critical care bed space and accommodate the increase. Currently, the general surgery unit houses six operation theatres (for major surgeries), three day-care theatres (for minor surgeries) and 10 rooms. A burns and plastic surgery unit and a bigger CAT lab will also be completed soon.

With 30 doctors, five consultants, four senior specialists and four registrars, the general surgery handled 2,850 major and 580 minor cases in 2008.

"We have already performed seven pancreatic and several bariatric and liver surgeries," explained Dr Faisal Badri, head of General Surgery Department.

The department also houses a breast cancer unit and an upcoming laparoscopic surgery unit with female surgeons. While the general surgery ?and the sub-speciality departments ?are tackling the load, the 24-hour ?trauma centre, too, is considered the busiest in the region. "A team of specialists can be brought together in less than 10 minutes to attend to a single patient," said Dr Badri.

While trauma centres all over the world treat 3-7 poly trauma cases daily, the centre has treated up to 14 cases in a day successfully. The unit, set up in 2006 with five doctors, now has 40 specialists. "The trauma centre cannot be separated from the development of the emirate. We have to cope with it," said Dr Abdel Halim Fadl Nasir, specialist senior registrar, Orthotrauma Department. In 2004, the centre operated upon 1,957 cases as compared to 5,993 cases in 2008. Currently, it treats up to 800 patients per month.

While there is a three-fold increase in the number of cases, the severity of injuries has also intensified.

"At least 200 people die in the country each year while the number of accidents is also huge," he said, adding that industrial and road accidents were among the main cases brought to the trauma unit.

"Three to four teams from different specialities may need to operate upon one patient for sometimes up to 10 hours to save his life," said Dr Badri.

The Cardiology Department, established in 2003, too, has seen a rise in the number of cases owing to the increase in population and lifestyle related diseases. Attached to the coronary unit, the eight-bed department completes over 1,000 therapeutic and diagnostic procedures each year.

"The average attendance time given to each patient is 60 minutes while we are hoping to increase the yearly procedures to 1,500," said Dr Fahad Baslaib, head of Cardiology Unit.

To meet these demands, the hospital needs to be up to date with technology and education. Sub-specialities including laparoscopic and spine units as well as those for hand and pelvic surgeries are being planned. The upcoming Trauma Centre in Jebel Ali will also be linked to Rashid Hospital.

Also, the Da'Vinci Robot will soon be part of the surgical team at the hospital, which is the US-based AO Foundation's (for bone surgery) training centre for Middle East and Africa.

By Asma Ali Zain

© Khaleej Times 2009

 

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