Accident/Emergency Ward in GH
Yesterday I had to visit the Accident (and Emergency) Ward in Goverment Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. One of my friend & his family met with an accident on an autorickshaw and brought there.
All the lads who zip through the traffic at maniacal speed should be made to visit this ward atleast once. They will definitely become concerned and slow down atleast to avoid ending up in such a pathetic ward.
The friend is not so well off and couldn’t afford treatment in private hospital. In any case, the accident was a serious one and police brought them to GH. When we went there, it”s already more than 2 hours since the accident happened, and they are still lying in stretchers in front of the ward. Streaks of blood were all over their body. It was really a shocking sight.
Fortunately, the cuts & bruises were not so severe, and X-rays revealed no fractures. But leaving the injured in the hot sun (it was 1.30pm and summer already started), on a metal streatcher, without even wiping the blood streaks for more than an hour is certainly not ”Emergency care”.
More than the hot sun, their bodies were shivering in shock. We talked to them our best to relax, but not of much success. Amidst the din & noise, they are not sure how safe the other ones are and don’t believe our assurances. Even after that medical aid is not forthcoming. They were busy with previous entry patients & paper works. Only around 3 pm, their wounds were cleaned up & medicines applied.
They were lying without any food or water since the accident. My friend was a lot better immediately after a bottle of glucose. Just for the simple & basic care, it took more than 3 hours after arrival at the ward. When we left, the blood stains were still not wiped.
The ICU section of this emergency ward is identified by a sign stuck above the door. It is a strip of paper in which ”I C U” is written using a ball-point pen. Inside the A/c is literally broken. Since it is supposed to be an Air-conditioned room, the ceiling is low & no fans available. Some of the glass windows were broken (apparently to let fresh air in on this stuffy room). The room itself needs ”Intensive Care” from the maintenance authorities.
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