Washrooms locked, patients harried at Civil Hospital

LUDHIANA: The patients in the OPD and their attendants are facing a tough time as they have to search a washroom to attend nature’s call as most of the washrooms at the Civil Hospital and Mother and Child Hospital (located inside the hospital) remain locked most of the times.

The washroom for physically-challenged patients at the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana is also locked. A tribune photo

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 20

The patients in the OPD and their attendants are facing a tough time as they have to search a washroom to attend nature’s call as most of the washrooms at the Civil Hospital and Mother and Child Hospital (located inside the hospital) remain locked most of the times.

On the one hand, the government is focusing on building toilets, but on the other, the scene at District Civil Hospital is opposite where patients are being pushed from pillar to post in search of a washroom.

There was another washroom for the disabled which was also found locked.

According to the sources, sweepers are responsible for this act. To avoid cleaning, they prefer to keep washrooms locked.

“Some of the washrooms remain locked for the entire day and some are opened only at around 10 to 11am. Sweepers clean bathrooms and lock these. They open washrooms at around 10-11 am while some remain locked throughout the day. Few days ago, even the staff bathroom was locked,” said a nurses working at the hospital.

The worst affected are the patients who after the surgery are unable to find a washroom. Sometimes the patients at Mother and Child Hospital also face a tough time due to locked washrooms.

Some of the washrooms at hospital’s floor were also locked. Raju Kesi, a relative of patient, said, one has to search for an unlocked washroom in the hospital.

“Sometimes the washroom on the ground floor is found locked and sometimes on the first floor. I really have to search an open washroom in the hospital,” he said.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr HS Ghai, when contacted in this regard said the washrooms should not be locked. “I will talk to the Senior Medical Officer of the hospital in this regard,” he said.

"Some of the washrooms remain locked for the entire day and some are opened only at around 10 am to 11 am. Sweepers clean bathrooms and lock these. They open washrooms at around 10-11 am while some remain locked throughout the day. A few days ago, even the staff bathroom was locked." — A nurse, Civil Hospital

"Sometimes, the washroom on the ground floor is found locked and sometimes on the first floor. I really have to search for a bathroom which I can use here." — Raju Kesi, An attendant to a patient

"The washrooms should not be locked. I will talk to the Senior Medical Officer of the hospital in this regard." — Dr HS ghai, Civil Surgeon