Facade of the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City and in Global City. Photo from the St. Luke’s website.
MANILA, Philippines — The management of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City (SLMC-QC) and Global City in Taguig (SLMC-GC) said on Tuesday that these medical facilities will no longer accept COVID-19 patients for confinement as both have already reached maximum capacity.
“We would like to inform you that as of today, March 24, St. Luke’s Medical Center – Quezon City and Global City are, regrettably, no longer capable of accepting COVID-9 patients for confinement,” the hospital management said in a statement.
According to hospitals’ management, admitting more COVID-19 patients will seriously impact the hospitals’ ability to deliver the critical level of care and attention that patients need at this time.
Both hospitals are, collectively, caring for 48 patients infected with the virus, and 139 patients under investigation (PUIs). A total of 592 of its personnel are also on quarantine.
The management noted the hospitals are also treating patients suffering from other diseases in other floors. It added the health conditions of these patients cannot be compromised, too.
“While it is our desire to extend quality healthcare to every patient that needs our help, we can only do so much at this point,” the management said.
It added, however, that it will still provide outpatient COVID-19 testing services for patients who will qualify based on the criteria set by the Department of Health.
Collected specimen will be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa, which will then release the test results to the SLMC once available.
Emergency rooms will also continue to accommodate patients for outpatient medical services.
“Given this situation, we urge everyone to practice personal preventive measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Please help us flatten the curve by staying at home. Protecting ourselves means protecting the health of our loved-ones as well,” the hospital management noted.