Photo/Illutration Osaka University Hospital in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. The facility freed up all its ICU beds for severely ill COVID-19 patients between May 1 and May 10. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

SUITA, Osaka Prefecture--The father of a teenage boy with a life-threatening illness was thrown into anguish when his son was forced out of a hospital intensive care unit to free up a bed for a COVID-19 patient.

The boy, who was admitted in late March, was moved from Osaka University Hospital’s ICU to its general ward due to a sudden policy change as COVID-19 cases surged throughout the prefecture.

His father said with stoic resolve that he perfectly understands the hospital’s decision and thanked the staff for their efforts.

“But I want the public to know the fact that patients who are supposed to be cared for at the ICU are receiving treatment in the general ward because hospitals were asked to increase beds for coronavirus patients,” the father said.

Hospitals moved to swiftly free up beds for serious COVID-19 cases at the behest of the prefectural government due to a steep rise in new infections as the virus rages throughout Osaka Prefecture. But the move is disrupting the treatment of patients, such as the man's son, suffering from other severe diseases.

The teenager was born with a congenital disorder and has survived two delicate surgeries performed at the hospital since he was admitted.

At Osaka University Hospital, 30 ICU beds are normally available for patients who have just undergone cancer or heart surgeries.

But 23 have already been allocated to patients with severe coronavirus symptoms.

The prefectural government asked Osaka University and four other universities in the prefecture on April 27 to free up more beds for severely ill coronavirus patients during the Golden Week holidays.

Responding to the plea, Osaka University Hospital officials decided to convert all their ICU beds for COVID-19 patients from May 1 to May 10.

The boy’s doctor called the father on April 29 to notify him about the hospital’s decision to move his son to the general ward.

The boy has repeatedly undergone surgery. His health deteriorated in early March, leading him to check into a hospital in Hyogo Prefecture.

The teenager’s condition grew so dire that he was put on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device, which circulates blood through an artificial lung, to keep him alive.

His condition further deteriorated, and he required delicate surgery.

Before long, he was transferred to Osaka University Hospital.

“It was the only chance for my son to make it and the last resort for our family,” the father said of his son’s transfer.

Doctors told the father that despite the surgery, the odds of his son surviving would not be high. But the boy defied the odds, and is still alive after two difficult operations.

The father said he was stunned when he learned that his son would be moved to the general ward from an ICU.

A patient staying in an ICU is continuously monitored for changes in their breathing, blood circulation and other conditions, with an array of life support equipment, including a ventilator, readily at hand.

The father said the doctors assured him hospital staff will care for his son around the clock, just as they did during his ICU stay.

But he admitted he became extremely worried about the transfer once he was informed about it.

He said he had no intention of criticizing hospital officials in sharing his experience. And he added that he is aware the sharp rise in new infections has overstretched the prefecture’s health care system to the point that it is disrupting the care of other patients.

“I have no other words than those of gratitude for the staff at Osaka University Hospital,” the father said. “I accept the hospital’s decision to move my son.”

A representative of Osaka University Hospital told The Asahi Shimbun that the institution limited the use of ICU beds to COVID-19 patients to meet the prefectural government’s request.

Starting May 11, the hospital will not admit new, serious cases of COVID-19 so it can secure ICU beds for patients with other problems.

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