‘Out-of-order’ lifts inconvenience patients

Two of the four lifts at the three-storey NMMC hospital in Vashi have been ‘out-of-order’ over the past week, inconveniencing the scores of patients that come to the hospital every day, said patients.

While the patients allege the hospital hasn’t done anything to redress the issue, sources in the hospital claim that despite repeated complaints to the NMMC head office, no corrective action has been taken.

“The Vashi NMMC hospital has patients coming in from all over the city and even Panvel and Mumbai, for services such as x-ray, sonography, dialysis, among others. But when they come to this hospital, they are inconvenienced as two of the lifts are not working. The lifts are required to take senior citizens and other patients up and down for various tests,” said Congress leader Ravindra Sawant, who has written to the civic administration to take urgent action to redress the problem.

“There are around 4,000 to 5,000 outdoor patients visiting the hospital on a daily basis and around 450 patients are admitted at a time. Of the 4 lifts at the hospital, 2 are not functioning,” he said, adding, “With two of the lifts not functioning, there is a huge load on the other two lifts which could break down soon.”

GV Rao, additional city engineer (electrical), said, “There are 4 lifts at the hospital and hence, we shut two lifts as they are not required. They are used as and when required.”

“Also, there have been several occasions when patients and their relatives get stuck in the lift,” said Sawant.

Mahesh Desai, a relative of a patient, said, “I had got stuck with my relative in the lift once. We were rescued after a while. I have seen patients walk up the stairs to avoid getting stuck in the lift.”

Rao said, “The lifts are old and at times there are problems. However, we have a permanent engineer deployed at the hospital who takes care of the complaints.”

Rao added, “If the problems persist, I will personally visit and assess the problem.”

HT FILE