The Riyadh Governorate has uncovered shortcomings in swine flu testing and treatment in some major hospitals in the capital city. Acting Emir of Riyadh Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz, has in a letter asked Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah to investigate and take appropriate action in King Saud Medical Complex, King Fahd Medical City, Al-Iyman General Hospital, Prince Salamn Hospital and Al-Yammamh Hospital to improve swine flu patient care. So far 33 people have died of swine flu in the Kingdom and up 4,000 people have been infected by the H1Ni virus. The Governorate's field team found the emergency departments of these hospitals inadequate, ill equipped and poorly staffed to serve the crowds of people seeking medical help for swine flu. Patients were vexed with the long wait and poor service, the governorate said. Ailing patients were found lying on the corridors for want of rooms and beds, the testing procedures were slow, only one doctor was deployed to conduct temperature and blood pressure checks, and security staff were rude to the crowds of anxious patients. In all the hospitals, the team found no precautionary measures in place to minimize the chances of the H1N1 infection from spreading. Prince Sattam has recommended that three emergency centers be set up at King Fahd Medical Center, Al-Ayman General Hospital and King Khaled International Airport for detecting and providing initial medical attention to swine flu patients who are to be referred to specialist hospitals.
