The recently-opened Amma Canteen at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital came with the promise of quality food at affordable rate through the day for the in-patients and visitors to the hospital. The promise also included timely delivery of food.
Started more than a month ago, the canteen is a hit with the visitors, patients and staff at the hospital, as the first half of the promise has been fulfilled. The second half however remains to be fulfilled, according to some of those availing the services. The food is not being delivered on time and the lack of adequate staff at the canteen is said to be the reason.
Visitors to the hospital say their joy would be complete if this issue is resolved.
Before this Amma Canteen was established, relatives of the patients either bought home-made food or went out to buy food from hotels, mostly from those located near Taylor’s Road, which is around two kilometres from the hospital.
As most of the patients are from economically weak backgrounds , they are reluctant to buy food regularly from hotels. Most of the in-patients wait for their relatives to bring food from home. Sometimes, they (visitors) come late with food resulting in delay in taking food and medicines.
Having Amma Canteen at KMC is a boon. It’s just that they want the service be timely.
Most of the government hospitals do not have full-fledged canteens on their premises. A few have Aavin booths where hot milk and other beverages are sold. Amma Canteens serve a variety of food including lemon rice, curry leaf rice, chapathi and idli.
“Earlier, I brought food from my house in Red Hills. Now, I buy them at the canteen in the hospital. However, of late, the services at the canteen is poor and delayed,” said 52-year-old S. Kamatchi, a resident in Red Hills.
Hospital sources said that the shortage of staff at the canteen has resulted in delay in services as a few staff have to do all work including cooking, washing the plates and other jobs such as cutting vegetables and cash collection. Sourcing the raw materials – vegetables and pulses – from the state-run cooperative societies on time has also been difficult in recent days. “As it takes time for the staff at the canteen to prepare food, early arrival of the raw materials would be ideal,” said a hospital official.
Setting up of Amma canteen at KMC is part of the government initiative to extend the services to big government hospital in the city.
