Tough time for patients as KGMU grapples with late night referrals

LUCKNOW: Number of referred patients to KGMU went up manifolds late of Saturday night, resulting in long queues at the trauma centre and compelling patients to wait for hours.

The situation arose as majority of the patients were referred from private hospitals, an issue that KGMU has been facing almost everyday.

“When private hospitals fail to take care, they simply refer cases here in the night,” said a doctor.

It was midnight when suddenly the that number of patients increased and despite having over 300 beds, doctors and medical staff had to struggle hard to adjust them for treatment. Patients waiting on stretchers and even wheel-chairs were seen waiting for treatment.

Beds in the casualty department too were full and some patients were seen waiting in the corridor.

The doctors then decided to shift the already admitted patients to make space for those waiting outside wards.

Satish, who had injury in his head, needed treatment and at night he could depend only on trauma centre which has the facility for diagnosis. He, however, had to wait for about two hours before he could get attention. ‘It was difficult also to get diagnosis done as there was a rush everywhere,’ said an attendant.