Due to the deteriorating flood situation and a critical shortage of medical oxygen—now sufficient for only one more day—Hat Yai Hospital will airlift about 90 seriously ill patients by helicopter to nearby hospitals.
The first group of 50 patients will be airlifted today, said Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Somruek Joengsamarn.
According to the evacuation plan, the first group of 50 patients will be transferred to Songklanagarind, Songkhla, Phatthalung and Pattani hospitals. Helicopters from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and Pattani Hospital will land on the helipad on top of Hat Yai Hospital.
Additional medical personnel from Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital and the 11th health service region will be sent to support the medical staff at Hat Yai Hospital. Additional oxygen tanks are also expected to arrive at the hospital within the next 24 hours.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said today that the electricity supply to Hat Yai hospital has been restored, but the system is not yet stable, adding that damage to the hospital from the flooding cannot be assessed yet, because the hospital is not accessible by land due to the heavy flooding.
Meanwhile, the Somdejpraboromrachineenart Hospital, in Na Thawee district of Songkhla province, is appealing for fresh and dried food for about 400 patients and medical personnel there.
The hospital director said there is enough rice at the hospital for just three days, adding that they are in dire need of fuel for the generators.
She also said that medical personnel are capable of taking care of patients as normal, but they and relatives of the patients are unable to leave the hospital and are packed together at the out-patient building due to the heavy flooding.
