Help desk flooded with complaints

Naina Mishra

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23

The help desk, which was set up for Covid-19 patients in home isolation, is flooded with calls from all quarters, including patients with mild symptoms lodged at quarantine centres.

“Though the help desk was meant for home-isolated patients, we have been receiving calls from quarantine centres such as hostels and Sood Bhawan. Patients are complaining about sanitation problems, garbage not been collected and poor quality of food,” said Anil Kumar, senior assistant, Chandigarh Housing Board.

“We have also been receiving queries from patients, who want their family members to be sampled, but they are clueless about the process. They often complain about helpline numbers not being picked up. We are trying to coordinate between the staff at quarantine centres and complainants, so that there is no hassle,” he said.

‘Staff working round-the-clock’

“Recently, we had received a call at 11:45 pm from a woman, who complained that someone had knocked at her door multiple times. We had to inform the police and coordinated with the PCR till 1 am,” said Kumar.

He said, “Our staff are working round-the-clock to provide all sort of assistance. They also attend late night calls so that there is no inconvenience.”

“Those who are home isolated do not have much problem and assistance from doctors is readily available to them. We attend around 270 per day,” said Kumar.

Meant for interaction

The help desk has been set up to have regular interaction with Covid patients, who have been advised home isolation. It assists them in case of an emergency. The help desk operates from the premises of the Chandigarh Housing Board.