Srinagar: The SMHS hospital Srinagar has shifted COVID-19 isolation ward to casualty, triggering concern among doctors and general patients.
A number of doctors who spoke to GNS said that the decision will lead to a disaster and requested the authorities to reconsider the decision. Rather, they urged them to shift the isolation ward where there is least public movement.
“The casualty itself means that there will be the rush of patients which cannot be controlled as all of them are acute cases,” a doctor said but requested anonymity.
Opposite to the isolation ward, the doctor says, is the medicine casualty ward and whosoever comes out from there will have to pass through the same lobby as the isolation ward.
“There are many wards in the hospital which are lying vacant but the administration has failed to create an isolation ward in those places for reasons better known to them,” the doctor added.
Another doctor said that the way to CT scan and X-ray is through the isolation ward. “There is no justification in having the isolation ward in the casualty which is a common pathway for all the patients and staff,” the doctor, who also urged not be named, said. “I can tell you, the SMHS hospital is going to burst anytime with the infection of coronavirus,” the doctor said, adding, “The word isolation means that there should be nobody around and imagine medicine casualty just opposite to isolation and then CT and X-ray share the common way”.
The doctor said that the wards are lying vacant but the administration is unable to shift the isolation in any of them.
An official from the administration termed the decision unfair and perplexing. “The decision seems to be deliberate as it would ensure patients despite complication will avoid visiting the hospital,” the official said. “It seems to be an unjust decision and needed to be reconsidered immediately.
When contacted by GNS, Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Nazir Choudhary refused to comment over the decision and requested to contact GMC authorities.
However, repeated attempts to reach the GMC principal over the phone for the comment did not fructify. (GNS)