The state health department has written to the private hospitals to augment beds and arrange infrastructure for paediatric care to deal with a third wave.

The hospitals have been asked to augment existing beds — both general and critical care beds — so that paediatric as well as neonatal patients can be treated well. This may need “paediatric-specific infrastructures and logistics”, the department’s letter said.

The letter also mentioned the need for adequate training for doctors, nurses and other human resources in the hospitals for paediatric care.

“Given the Covid-19 experience in certain regions of the world, experts have been predicting a Third Wave of Covid-19 cases with a disproportionately high burden among the paediatric population. Therefore, there is a need to prepare for any sudden surge of Covid-19 cases in future in the paediatric population,” read the letter.

“It is desirable to designate specific areas in the Covid facilities for paediatric care with due regards to infection prevention measures”.

Most multispeciality private hospitals in the city have paediatrics departments, said officials of hospitals.

“We have prepared a plan of how to segregate Covid and non-Covid paediatric patients in the paediatric ward. We have already submitted a plan to the government on how we will deal with any additional load of infants and children with Covid if a situation arises,” said Rupali Basu, the managing director of Woodlands Hospital.

The department’s letter also spoke about the need of emergency services for paediatric patients. “There need to be appropriate triage area system and holding area for patients waiting for reports. Available holding area, used for adults, may be augmented to suitably cater for the paediatric patients and their guardians”, the letter said.