KOTA KINABALU: The emergency medical services in Sabah have improved tremendously over the years, said Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) director Dr Heric Corray.
Dr Heric said there were now seven emergency medical specialists at QEH, two at QEH 2 in Damai and two at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Likas where patients requiring emergency medical attention could be stabilized before they were transferred to the respective hospitals.
“QEH and QEH 2 can work independently, meaning patients who end up at either one of the hospitals can receive full treatment there,” he said in an interview after taking reporters on a tour at the new Emergency Medical and Trauma Department (EMTD) at QEH here yesterday.
Besides the 11 trained emergency specialists in Kota Kinabalu, there are two in Sandakan, two in Lahad Datu, two in Tawau, one in Keningau and very soon, one in Labuan hospitals.
He said the EMTD was the first department which started operating at the new twin towers at QEH.
“We have three operating theatres here for ear, nose and throat (ENT), ophthalmology and trauma patients, which are expected to be operational by September 1.”
Besides the EMTD, the twin towers also house several wards such as the medical ward, ENT ward, ophthalmology ward and rehabilitation department.
In addition, Dr Heric said all patients at Lingzhi Medical Centre had moved to QEH as the place had been shut down.
There were 52 beds at Lingzhi Medical Centre which catered for general medical, geriatric and infectious disease patients.
“We hope the twin towers will be fully functional by the end of this year,” he said, adding that the move of various departments into the twin towers would be carried out in stages.
The Forensics Department has also moved into the twin-tower.
Dr Heric added that QEH would be capable and prepared in handling infectious diseases such as Ebola the virus disease (EVD), which he assured there was no such case yet.
Also present was EMTD head of emergency physician consultant Dr Ahmad Hashim.