The ordeal for patients starts at the entrance of the casualty at government hospitals, as their close relatives and friends search frantically for a stretcher.
The critically ill patient is somehow transferred onto the stretcher and wheeled into the casualty by relatives only to find it hard to draw the attention of the doctors.
Patients and their relatives underwent such anxious moments in the emergency departments at government hospitals in the capital due to the boycott of emergency services by medicos.
“It took close to 25 minutes for the doctor to show up. Till then, the nurse just checked my wife’s blood pressure and asked us to wait,” said Md. Akram, whose wife had high-grade fever at OGH casualty.
Relatives and the patients also complained about the lack of communication. “They don’t even inform us about the patient’s condition. We can’t go to private hospitals because they are expensive. And when we come to government hospital, there are no doctors to provide treatment,” complained Rauf, an outpatient at OGH.
Hospital authorities at OGH, Gandhi and Niloufer hospitals had roped in senior doctors to take over the functioning of the emergency units. At Gandhi and OGH, staff from Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) staff also joined to extend help to the senior doctors.
Irritating issues
“There could be some irritating issues like delays but we did not send any patients back. Despite the huge pressure, we have continued to take admissions even on Wednesday,” Dr. D. Ranganath, Superintendent, Niloufer Hospital said.
Outpatient services at OGH, Gandhi and Niloufer hospitals functioned normally. “Our senior doctors are manning emergency services round the clock. Those who were on leave have been asked to report to duties immediately. On Wednesday, we received 1,399 outpatients. Admissions were done as usual,” Superintendent, Gandhi Hospital, Dr. S. Mahaboob said.
