Kin find no other way but to carry patient in their arms

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 21

When Gurdeep Singh’s relative rushed him to the Bathinda Civil hospital for treatment for an injury, little did he know that he would need to carry the patient in his arms to the emergency ward.

A resident of Shekhpura village of Bathinda district, Gurdeep sustained a foot injury.

Facing shortage of stretchers, staff of the hospital allegedly expressed their helplessness in arranging a stretcher or a wheelchair for the injured.

“We didn’t want to waste any time in waiting for a wheelchair or stretcher. When we checked with the hospital staff, they said the available wheelchairs and stretchers were engaged at that moment. In a hurry, I thought it better to carry Gurdeep to the emergency ward,” Gurdeep’s cousin said.

If the Bathinda Civil Hospital, which caters to thousands of patients every day, has a shortage of wheelchairs and stretchers at the emergency ward, one may well imagine the situation in the in-patient (IPD) or out-patient departments (OPD).

A visit to the premises of the emergency ward of the hospital showed that some stretchers had been rendered useless since they had not been repaired. /One of the stretchers lying useless was a sight to behold. While one of the wheels was missing, the two of the hind wheels had been modified, which could rotate 360 degree, a prerequisite for the stretcher wheels so that it can be easily maneuvered and moved around.

Civil Surgeon Dr RS Randhawa said there were adequate number of wheelchairs and stretchers at the hospital.

He urged the patients to contact the staff nurse on duty with the emergency medical officer for providing them one.

“There is no shortage of wheelchairs and stretchers at the hospital. Since there are several entry and exit points to the wards of the hospital, availability of these can’t be ensured at all such spots. In case there are any broken medical aid vehicles on the hospital premises, we will have them repaired at the earliest,” the Civil Surgeon said.