BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
Bacolod City COVID-19 frontliner Jesryl Bancaya, who died Sunday, was not denied hospital care and admission at the Cadiz District Hospital, Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, CDH chief, said yesterday.
In a report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Pinongan said the patient was never brought to the CDH.
This was concurred in by Jesryl’s brother, Conrado Bancaya, in an interview with the DAILY STAR, Monday.
The patient was never turned down, rather he was on the priority list for admission, Pinongan said.
Dr. Grace Tan of the Bacolod City Health Office called the Cadiz District Hospital and referred the frontliner, she said.
Essential preparations and strategies were planned and prepared by the Triage and Emergency Room for the arrival of three more referred patients from other institutions, including Bancaya, she said.
However, at 5:12 p.m. Sunday, they were informed that Bancaya died, she said.
Conrado said his brother had difficulty breathing and was brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital at past noon Sunday but they were told he could not be attended to because the hospital was already full.
They sought Bacolod Councilor Israel Salanga’s help who made arrangements for Jesryl to be brought to the CDH, but they were told that space would be available later in the afternoon, Conrado said.
They decided to bring his brother home to rest while waiting for the proper time to bring him to the CDH, he added.
However, on reaching home, his brother had a seizure and was then brought to the Adventist Medical Center-Bacolod where he was declared dead, Conrado said.
Pinongan said no co-morbidities or the occupation of the patient was mentioned when he was referred to the CDH. He was initially classified as a COVID-19 mild case, based on data provided.
Tan was informed that necessary preparations, such as cleaning, misting and UV radiation of a room had to be performed before the patient’s accommodation, the report to the governor said.
Tan was assured that the patient would be accommodated, Pinongan stressed.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia in a statement yesterday said “we deeply mourn with the family of Jesryl Bancaya, our one brave soldier in the forefront of our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a frontliner, he went forth every day to serve his fellowmen, especially the returning overseas Filipino workers from Bacolod, with a drive to service coupled by the joy in its fulfillment,” he added.
Time, weather, and other untoward circumstances were no hindrances in the performance of his tasks, the mayor said.*
