The restless hours
Dr. Le Quang Tri, Head Nurse of the A9 Emergency Center (Bach Mai Hospital) had just brought up the dinner box when he quickly put it down because a serious emergency case had just arrived. After finishing the case, Dr. Tri returned to the room when the lunch box was cold with stir-fried vegetables, braised meat, and a box of cabbage soup... "Having rice to eat at this time is a blessing. There are many days when I finish the emergency and don't want to continue the meal anymore," Dr. Tri shared.
According to Dr. Tri, the time from 12:00 to 18:00 is when stress increases. The hospital not only faces pressure from a large number of patients but also has to handle sudden cases, such as work accidents and mass poisoning. Each doctor and nurse works non-stop, only taking a few short minutes to recharge before returning to the emergency room.
From 6pm to midnight, when the city gradually falls asleep, the emergency center is still lit up. Emergency cases from neighboring provinces are continuously transferred. Especially on holidays or weekends, the number of patients increases significantly, putting great pressure on the medical team.
24 hours, the New Year's Eve feast is ready but no one can sit down. Doctors are still busy with emergency cases. Emergency cases are admitted to the hospital. Ambulance sirens are constantly sounding, signaling emergency cases that need to be treated immediately.
"While many families are gathering together to welcome the moment of transition between the old year and the new year, at the A9 Emergency Center of Bach Mai Hospital, the lights never go out. New Year's Eve here is not just a normal working night, but also a race against time to save the lives of patients who need timely treatment. The work intensity is high, but we do not allow ourselves to be negligent. Every minute is very important when working here," shared Dr. Nguyen Minh Hieu, A9 Emergency Center.
A Day Without Sleep – Keeping Up With Life
Dr. Nguyen Minh Hieu added: “Every moment here is precious. We have to act quickly and accurately to ensure that patients receive the most timely care. For us, New Year’s Eve has no fireworks or congratulations, only tireless efforts to save patients’ lives.”
On New Year’s Eve, the number of emergency patients increased dramatically. The team of doctors and medical staff at the emergency center had to work all night to receive and treat emergency cases, from traffic accidents, alcohol poisoning to sudden medical conditions. In the moment of transition between the old year and the new year, there were joys and sorrows: joy in saving patients’ lives, sadness in witnessing loss.
Many doctors and nurses are used to celebrating New Year’s Eve in the hospital. Even though they cannot be with their families, they still feel happy when they see the smiles of their saved patients. For them, New Year’s Eve is the moment when patients overcome critical conditions and their faith in life is rekindled.
Dr. Nguyen Minh Hieu confided: “Although I miss home very much, seeing patients recover makes me feel that my job is meaningful. This is also how we welcome the New Year - with responsibility and love for the profession.”
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of A9 Emergency Center, was on duty on New Year's Eve with nearly 40 doctors and nurses of the Center and 160 support staff from departments and rooms. As the leading emergency facility for critically ill patients, A9 is always on 24/7, 365 days a year. "There were years when there were so many patients that doctors and nurses did not have time to celebrate New Year's Eve, or even celebrate New Year's Eve, they just looked at the clock and it was already the new year" - Dr. Tuan shared.
A9 Emergency Center with more than 200 staff, doctors and nurses is always overloaded, with a bed capacity of 150-200%. "Whether it's a weekday, a holiday or Tet, we always work at full capacity to meet the needs of patients" - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan said.
New Year's Eve at the A9 Emergency Center of Bach Mai Hospital is a symbol of the silent sacrifice and great responsibility of the medical sector. In the moment of transition between the old year and the new year, they still work diligently, because each patient saved is the most precious gift, not only for their families but also for the medical professionals themselves.
Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, said that the most special shift of the year - saying goodbye to the old year of Giap Thin and welcoming the new year of At Ty at Bach Mai Hospital still has nearly 1,400 patients being treated, along with 1,000 doctors, specialists, and medical staff of the hospital also entering a special shift - the New Year's Eve shift...
