Covid test before surgeries, thermal scanning of visitors must for hospitals

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 25

Prescribing a Covid test to patients undergoing surgeries seems to have become a new normal amid the ongoing pandemic as hospitals have put in place a number of safety measures.

The testing for Covid has become a routine affair these days as a number of residents reported that they were asked to get tested for the infection.

Even the waiting time at OPDs has decreased as people are not ready to visit one except in case of an emergency. The sources said even the surgeries which had been put off for a little while have been postponed for the time being.

The preference for telephonic consultation in case of minor ailments has also increased as doctors as well as patients consider it to be more safe rather than attending patients physically or visiting clinics. “Sitting in the waiting area of a clinic is not what most people would like to do. Even doctors are giving appointments for a fixed time,” said Guneet Bhalla, a homemaker.

While sanitisers, face masks and thermal scanning are ensured at the entrance of the hospitals, the medical staff in PPE kits can seen at the entrances of most hospitals.

Though donning PPE kits in the OPD is not essential, some professionals have been taking extra precaution. With the Covid-19 threat looming large, treatment expenses too have increased as patients have to bear the cost of PPE kit for the doctors as well other medical professionals in the hospital.

With temperature soaring, medical professionals have been dreading wearing the plastic PPE kits which makes body perspire profusely. “You cannot attend to a patient, especially an emergency case, without wearing a PPE kit,” said a health professional.

An elderly woman who underwent an angiography test recently Gurinder Kaur said, “Apart from the tests, medicines and medical equipment, we also had to pay for PPE kits and masks for the medical staff. We had to spend around 3,500 more as the doctors and other professionals cannot use the same kit for two patients.”

SPEAKING OUT

We will have to live with Covid for the rest of our lives. So, it will be better if we change our lifestyle, hygiene and habits. We need a collective effort in this battle against Covid. —Dr Balbir Singh Dhillon, Dhillon hospital, Chogawan

We are ensuring that patients are kept safe. The hospital is being sanitised regularly. Besides, we are also ensuring that social distancing norms are strictly adhered to. —Dr Ashok Uppal, Uppal neuro hospital, Rani ka bagh

We have stopped using elevators as a precaution. Besides, the surgeries are performed only after Covid testing. Most important among all steps, the OPD is only with on-call appointments. —Dr Gurvinder Singh, Hargun hospital, Batala road

We are screening all patients and medical staff for any symptoms of Covid. We also try to raise awareness among patients about the importance of hand hygiene and other precautions to deal with the situation. —Dr Avtar Singh, Amandeep Hospital