ILS Hospitals have tied up with The Sonnet to provide hotel isolation service under medical supervision. The service started from Sunday and such is the demand that they have had to increase capacity within three days.

Earlier, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals too had started a 50-bed satellite service at the adjacent Visitel. Sources said even that is running at full capacity.

“As per government directive, we will keep only those patients who are mildly symptomatic, requiring isolation but unable to stay at home. They have to be under 60 years and without serious co-morbidities,” said Aruna Tantia, director, GPT Healthcare, which runs the chain of hospitals.

Most patients recover fast but if they develop any problem they will be transferred to the Dum Dum or Howrah units of ILS Hospitals. ILS Howrah has been treating Covid-19 patients since April and the bed count has risen to 100. The Dum Dum unit started Covid treatment in May and has over 70 beds.

Housekeeping staff in PPE clear meal trays of isolated boarders. Telegraph picture

“Both units are running to capacity and we have a long waiting list of patients. The number of Covid cases is increasing exponentially so we thought of this step so that hospital beds can be saved for only those who develop complications,” said Tantia.

The hospital group has signed a memorandum of understanding with the hotel which is very close to its Salt Lake unit. “They will provide food and house-keeping services while our nursing staff and doctor will be posted there. The food will be prepared under guidance of our dietician,” explained Tantia.

The service started on Sunday with 12 rooms after the hotel’s housekeeping staff were trained in disinfection protocol. “All rooms are full and we already have 15 patients, including two sisters and a couple who have opted for twin sharing,” said Subhranath Maitra, deputy general manager, operations, at ILS.

The hospital has decided to extend the service to 12 more beds from Wednesday. “I am receiving hundreds of calls daily, sometimes even at the break of dawn, seeking assistance. It becomes difficult to explain that we take only mildly symptomatic patients,” said Maitra.

Nursing staff clad in PPE at The Sonnet Telegraph picture

ILS Salt Lake is not treating Covid-19 patients. “It is an old building with lots of cabins. You can’t keep Covid patients in cabins as they need to be under constant observation. We don’t have dormitory wards which are needed for the purpose,” Tantia explained. She also pointed out that some facilities needed to be preserved for non-Covid medical services. “For example, we treat a lot of maternity patients here. Where will they go then?” argued Tantia, who is herself a gynaecologist and laparoscopic surgeon.

ILS also offers 14-day home monitoring packages for suspected and Covid-positive patients in home isolation.

“We offer protective gear and telecounselling under this package,” she said.