Hospitals on Guv alert spruce up their act
Employee shortage, lack of infrastructure persist
“The Governor will come for a surprise visit” is what hospital administrations and senior doctors are telling the staff since February 19, when E.S.L. Narasimhan had dropped in at the Gandhi Hospital.
Osmania General Hospital, Niloufer Hospital and King Koti Maternity Hospital are ensuring that sanitation workers and paramedical staff keep the hospitals squeaky clean. Senior doctors are also going on rounds regularly and attending to patients’ complaints.
A senior health officer at OGH said, “While the sanitation staff is being geared up, there is a lot of reluctance as they have not got salaries for the last three months. They are very upset with the contractor who is not paying them on time. The hospital administration has written to the Telangana State Medical Infrastructure Development Corporation to solve this problem as it is becoming a major hurdle for us.”
Meanwhile, patients in the out-patient department often have to sit on the floor due to lack of chairs and benches. Senior doctors have asked their juniors to ensure that all of them are properly attended to and that there is no delay.
Despite best of efforts, OGH still has a shortage of staff and attendants of patients are often seen wheeling stretchers and taking patients to hospital wards. Dr Nagendra of the hospital said, “There is an acute shortage and it has been pointed out to the government from time to time. It’s a long - pending demand which must be fulfilled.”
At Niloufer Hospital, doctors are vigilant and are ensuring that relatives and attendants of patients do not litter the hospital.
Senior pediatrician Dr Lalu Prasad said, “We are well prepared for a visit from the Governor. The hospital administration and staff are ensuring that there is no stone left unturned.”
Similarly, caution is the word at King Koti Maternity Hospital where pregnant women are being given proper tokens and extra paramedical staff have been pressed into service. After the surprise visit at Gandhi Hospital, the staff were reprimanded and there have been some changes, the most promising one being the availability of doctors till 4.30 pm.
This was one of the biggest complaints by patients who stated that there would be no senior doctors after 2 pm.