Ministry of Health requires heat protection for patients and medical staff

On May 21, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) sent a document to the directors of hospitals under the Ministry of Health and universities, directors of the Department of Health of provinces and cities... aboutheat protectionfor patients and medical staff in hospitals.

The Ministry of Health said that recently, the weather in many areas across the country has been hot and sunny, affecting people's lives and the working environment. To prevent heat for patients and medical staff, ensure safety and improve patient satisfaction, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, Ministry of Health requested heads of units to urgently implement and direct affiliated units to prepare medicines, equipment, and emergency vehicles at hospitals and outpatient clinics; retrain first aid skills for heatstroke, heat shock and especially stroke; be ready to provide timely emergency care to patients. Coordinate with media units, preventive medicine centers... in the area to propagate and mobilize people to proactively prevent heat and sudden changes in temperature.

Waiting area at the Examination Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Photo: Thanh Chung

The Ministry of Health requires a precise re-evaluation of criterion A1.2 "Patients and their relatives are allowed to wait in a room with full amenities and are transported appropriately to their condition" in the Vietnam Hospital Quality Criteria 2.0 to supplement and immediately repair infrastructure if it has not been built or is degraded (sub-items 4, 6, 10, 18...). Urgently install canopies for walkways between buildings and in outdoor areas where there are many relatives of patients.

At the same time, review the ventilation status in areas with many patients such as waiting rooms, corridors... and treatment departments, patient rooms, administrative rooms... Plan to add fans and air conditioners to necessary areas. Mobilize funding sources to purchase ceiling fans, ventilation fans, steam fans or air conditioners within the hospital's resource capacity.

Patients and their families wait tiredly for their turn to see a doctor. Photo: Thanh Chung

The Ministry also requires ensuring the provision of free drinking water for patients and their relatives in clinical departments and waiting rooms. Add water dispensers to locations that are lacking or in high demand on hot days as required in criterion A2.4 "Patients enjoy facilities that ensure health, improve physical and mental health" in sub-sections 5, 11, 12... Maintain a green, clean and beautiful hospital according to the instructions in criterion A3.1 "Patients are treated in a green, clean and beautiful environment and landscape" and add trees if necessary.

For hospitals with limited resources or difficulties in bidding: assign hospital leaders, department leaders and social work team leaders to mobilize social resources, philanthropists, businesses... to join hands and share difficulties with the hospital; invest and sponsor fans, air conditioners, water dispensers... to serve and improve the satisfaction of patients and medical staff.

Units must fully study the contents of the document, and direct affiliated units to promptly implement and report to the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management on improvement activities (if any).