Sishu Bhawan a casualty of neglect

CUTTACK: The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post- Graduate Institute of Paediatrics  (SVP PG IP), better known as Sishu Bhawan, has pressed for a full-fledged Casualty department in the hospital.It has called upon the State Government to sanction four doctors for the department, which would be the first point of handling the child patients in case of  emergencies, referrals and attendance during the non-OPD hours.  A proposal to this point was submitted to the Assembly House Committee led by Bishnu Das, which visited the institution to review its facilities, infrastructure and functioning. The 250-bed only children’s hospital of the State is yet to have a Casualty wing which is causing inconvenience to the people and medical staff during emergency admissions or in cases of patients coming without prior appointment. At present patients during non-OPD hours are being dealt by the doctors on emergency and night duty.   The Casualty wing is most required as it would be the entry point for the patients, where initial treatment would be provided and then sent to appropriate wards or departments.  There should be at least four doctors for round-the-clock functioning of the department, hospital authorities put forth. With the hospital exclusively dealing with children they have also called for construction of a Patient Attendant Shelter in the campus to provide short-duration accommodation to the attendants or parents of the children admitted to the  hospital.In the absence of accommodation facility, the parents put up on the floors as well as corridors hindering free movement of people besides causing unhygienic conditions. A plan proposal to the tune of ` 2 crore has been prepared under the R&B wing for construction of a three-storey shelter. It would have all facilities from dormitories to single rooms for accommodating the parents and attendants. It would also have a cafeteria and canteen, Superintendent Prof HK Mohanty apprised the committee members and asked them to press the matter with the Government. The authorities have called for immediate filling up of the vacancies in view of the fast increasing patient load. Of the total 288 staff positions, 56 are lying vacant including 19 doctors.  The hospital sees an annual patient inflow of around 90,000 at the OPDs while indoor admissions in 2010-11 were 12,967. About 3,611 newborn cases were handled in the year while 5,204 surgeries were conducted.