Seoul National University Hospital secures additional coronavirus beds, a total of 48 beds
- Moderate and Severe Patients Ward opened by renovating the space previously used to train medical staff in preparation for disaster cases, with medical tools equipped
- The new ward is expected to improve efficiency in treating severe patients
Seoul National University Hospital is to secure more COVID-19 beds to a total of 48 beds.
Due to the recent spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the metropolitan city of Seoul, there has been a lack of hospital beds. Seoul National University Hospital, currently equipped with 32 COVID-19 beds, will soon be opening a new ward with 16 coronavirus beds for moderate/severe patients.
If the Moderate and Severe Patients Ward opens, treatment efficiency will be greatly improved for moderate/severe patients, as there will be more beds than now to provide for the currently existing 20 moderate/severe patients in the hospital, whose number exceeds our limit.
The space where the new beds will be placed has been used as a cafeteria for staff. It has been renovated into 4 rooms with 4 beds each, plus a residential area for medical staff.
According to a staff member of the hospital, the space was prepared in 2016 in order to receive patients of disaster cases, equipped with medical tools such as oxygen and gas. Simulation models of disaster situations were set up and actually performed every year for training purposes.
“Since it was an area already equipped with medical tools, we didn’t really have any trouble turning it into a ward for patient beds. Training experiences with the help of simulation models of disaster situations have also been helpful,” explained Jeong Seung-Yong, the Vice-President of the Center for Disaster Medicine, adding, “We’re doing our best to prevent the spread of the pandemic.”
