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Fact file* The newly-constructed 100-bedded block awaits PSEB’s clearance certificate * There are always more patients than its capacity at any given time * Patients are often shifted to verandah due to lack of space * At times, men and women patients are adjusted in the same ward * Patients with burn injuries are sometimes shifted to general wards. |
Ludhiana, September 26
But for an electricity connection by the PSEB, the new 100-bed block
of the Civil Hospital here would have started functioning by now. The
PSEB has, so far, not provided electricity connections to the new
block, which was otherwise to start functioning from August.
However, according to Dr Y.C. Markan, Senior Medical Officer, the newly-constructed building christened as Lord Mahavira Civil Hospital will soon be made functional for the patients. He said over Rs 2 crore had been spent on the construction of the new block by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC). The building which is ready to serve patients has been waiting for clearance certificate by the PSEB.
Dr Markan said the new block was complete and now electricity connections were to be released. He said, “We have already deposited Rs 11 lakh as connection money to the PSEB. Only the transformer has to be fitted and electricity connections released by the board. We hope that the new block will soon be made functional”. The OPDs, Indoors and Operation Theatres (OTs) would be shifted to this new building, he said.
A doctor, on condition of anonymity, said all was not well in the hospital as the staff and doctors could not do much under the prevailing circumstances.
One of the employees of the para-medical staff said at times, due to the rush of patients, it becomes difficult for the attendants to adjust the patients. “In such cases, we shift patients to the verandah because of the non-availability of beds and room. At times, we adjust the men and women in the same ward. What can we do? We have to give best out of the limited availability”, he said.
Otherwise, the hospital has the latest infrastructure, testing equipment and medical specialists in different fields like medicine, skin, gynaecology and surgery.
Another doctor said the hospital had a two-room burn unit and only four patients could be adjusted there. “There is always rush in the burn unit. In case, there are more admissions, the patients are admitted to general wards. At times, only the dressing of the patients is done here and it is unfortunate that majority of patients are brought in a serious condition”, disclosed the doctor. In this hospital, there are more than 120 admissions everyday.
