Walk-in casualty service to cut rush at GTB emergency centre
its citizens?”
In October, when the government restricted services for about 10 days, the number of patients in its OPD and queues for medicine and diagnostic tests had nearly halved, according to Guru Teg Bahadur hospital officials.
“The biggest difference was in the dispensary, where people got medicines within 10 to 15 minutes instead of a couple of hours that it usually takes,” said Dr Sunil Kumar, medical director of GTB hospital.
Advocate Ashok Agarwal, who had challenged the Delhi government decision in the high court, said, “The government is just trying to appease its vote bank. Health should be a fundamental right and no one should be discriminated against based on where they live.”
“Besides, they only consider people with voter identification card from Delhi to be Delhi residents. This was said in the guidelines. Why not accept other identification proof? And, what about the relatives of people from other states who have now settled in Delhi? Should they not get treatment here just because they do not have the voter ID?” he said. NEWDELHI: A 25-bed walk-in casualty was opened at the Guru Teg Bahadur hospital on Saturday with the aim of reducing the rush to its emergency department.
The round-the-clock service will be staffed by two doctors and will treat emergency cases that require short treatment time.
“At any emergency centre, the doctor has to decide who requires the most urgent care. A patient who comes in a critical condition on a gurney should not be missed between others with minor injuries like broken bones or chest congestion,” said Dr Sunil Kumar, medical director, GTB hospital.
The hospital receives nearly 1,000 patients in its emergency department every day. “Doctors say that 70 to 80% patients with emergency condition need immediate care only for a short time,” Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said, while inaugurating the service. “If successful, this will be implemented in other hospitals too.”
“Most patients coming here can be treated in just 30 to 60 minutes and go home. However, if the doctor thinks that some of the patients are serious and need admission, they can be moved to emergency department,” he said.
Along with the walk-in casualty centre, a new anti-rabies clinic too also opened. The threeroom centre with dedicated staff, will treat patients with animal bites. “The clinic also has a separate washing area — essential, but missing in most hospitals,” said Kumar.