- Title: Non COVID-19 patients suffer in Mexico's hospital system
- Date: 1st May 2020
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 1, 2020) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR ''LA RAZA'' HOSPITAL CLOSED GATES AT HOSPITAL BANNER READING THAT APPOINTMENTS ARE SUSPENDED DUE TO EMERGENCY NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS GUARDING HOSPITAL MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (APRIL 30, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LUCIA PINEDA TREATING HER DAUGHTER, LILIANA AT HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MOTHER OF LILIANA, LUCIA PINEDA, SAYING: ''They (hospital) had been telling me she had to leave and go home so that I could continue treating her and the reason they gave me was that the situation with the coronavirus was problematic and could hurt her more than benefit her to stay there given the vulnerable state she is in. Finally, we had no other option other than to accept Liliana's discharge from hospital.'' VARIOUS OF PINEDA TREATING HER DAUGHTER LILIANA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MOTHER OF LILIANA, LUCIA PINEDA, SAYING: ''We were discharged and she should obviously have follow-up treatment, but with COVID-19 it will all be pushed back, everything has to be postponed. And, even though she is progressing, this problem with the virus has caused all the different specialist attention she needs to be stopped.'' MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (APRIL 29, 2020) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OPERATING ROOMS AT HOSPITAL NURSES GOING INTO OPERATING ROOMS NURSES WALKING DOWN STEPS UNDER BANNER THAT READS: (Spanish) ''COVID-19 AREA'' HOSPITAL HALLWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF JUAREZ HOSPITAL, DOCTOR MARTIN ANTONIO MANRIQUE, SAYING: ''Obviously with the pandemic, we had to reduce our outpatient clinic. The outpatient clinic for practically all specialties is closed. We do not have an answer for this attention right now. We also have practically zero surgeries scheduled, only emergency surgeries." VARIOUS OF PATIENT WITH COVID-19 BEING TRANSFERRED
- Embargoed: 15th May 2020 23:28
- Keywords:
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Reuters ID: LVA001CC3OPXJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: With Mexico's health system under strain, non COVID-19 patients are finding their treatment scaled back as doctors prioritize patients with the novel coronavirus.
Such is the case with Liliana Juarez who had been hospitalised since January at ''La Raza'' hospital, located to the north of Mexico City. Her family found out in early April she had to be discharged and taken home because she was at risk of infection from the disease.
Juarez suffers from cerebral palsy and recently had an operation which further complicated her mobility. She cannot eat by herself and has difficulty breathing. She must be constantly given supplemental oxygen. Juarez's parents now have to care for her around the clock.
Her family had to invest in a hospital bed equipped with a special mattress to prevent sores. Juarez's mother Lucia Pineda spoke of the difficulties they have faced.
As her daughters' treatment and therapy has been suspended, Pineda fears her daughter will not receive attention in the ER in case of a medical emergency.
Mexico's health ministry reported on Friday (May 1) 1,515 new known coronavirus cases and 113 deaths, bringing the country's total to 20,739 cases and 1,972 deaths.
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