Lack of help desk, signages add to patients’ woes

Bathinda, April 16

Despite standing in a queue for close to one hour outside the psychiatric unit of the Civil Hospital, when patient Ramesh Kumar’s turn came to get himself examined, the doctor asked him to visit a medicine specialist (doctor) in the other ward.

A visibly helpless Ramesh, who had viral fever, moved towards the unit where he would again have to join a line and wait for more than one hour as the queue is very long.

Same is the case with many patients, especially those visiting from villages, who have to wait for hours for their turn only to be told that they had landed a wrong destination. There are others who have to keep wandering from unit to unit in the absence of signages and an information desk in the Civil Hospital.

Already down with fever or some health problem, these patients are subjected to unnecessary wait for hours for their turn. Installing signages and information help desks would definitely save patients inconvenience on a daily basis, says a doctor.

Moreover, doctors and staff members of the hospital can also be seen guiding patients to their respective doctors throughout the day. Both patients as well as staff members have brought the matter to the authorities’ notice, but nothing concrete has been done in the matter so far.

Sukhjinder Singh Gill, SMO, said, “After checking the matter, I will ensure appropriate action in the matter.” — TNS