Outpatients increase rapidly as mercury hikes
22/7/2003 18:04
More patients are falling ill due to the scorching weather these days
as highest day temperatures have surged to some 38 degrees Celsius more than
once.
Ruijin Hospital, one of the elite health centers in the city, reported
an increase of more than 20 percent of its normal outpatient volume since the
rainy season was over.
Local first aid center also claimed a rise of 14
percent in calls for emergencies on the 120 hot-line.
Hui Xiaoping, deputy
director of the Emergency Outpatient Center of the Ruijin Hospital, explained
that three groups of patients accounted for most of the newly diseased
recently.
"One group is comprised of the elderly who are prone to have acute
spasmm of their chronic ailments in hot days. Another group is most hit by
respiratory diseases and digestive system failures. The other group is made up
of wounds from accidents," Hui said.
Daily observation at the emergency
center and the transfusion wards proves that more than half of the outpatients
have been the elderly who have their chronic diseases renewed.
To actively
respond to the weather-driven change, local hospitals have implemented new
measures to prolong the working hours of the outpatient clinics.
Ruijin
Hospital, for example, has arranged doctor-in-chief for the extra clinic hours
between 18:00 and 22:00 in the evening.
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