The Health Directorate in Taif has admitted it has sought the help of private hospitals in the governorate to help solve its critical shortage of beds in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital.
It has already referred about 300 patients to private hospitals in Taif over the past six months.
Saeed Al-Zahrani, the directorate’s spokesman, has confirmed the drastic shortage of beds because of the recent increase in the number of traffic accidents.
He said the shortage still exists despite the expansions being carried out at the ICU departments of the ministry’s hospitals.
The son of an elderly patient, who declined to give his name, said his mother had waited 48 hours for a bed at a government hospital. Her condition had worsened and he was forced to transfer her to a military hospital.
ENAD AL-OTAIBI
Saudi Gazette