PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The revised traffic management plan- introduced at Deen Dayal Upadhyay District Hospital, which included separate entry and exit points for four-wheelers- has fallen flat within a few days of its implementation. Worse, this failure exacerbated congestion, leaving patients, attendants and ambulances stay stuck, especially during emergencies. The people said that they were unable to follow the revised plan, for that took more time than earlier. While talking to The Pioneer, the hospital administration said that for the time being, they are keeping the new plan suspended. “This is the time when the patient volume is low. So we call this healthy season. After summer comes, patient footfall is likely to increase and then we may reinstate the revised traffic plan,” said a senior hospital officer.
Earlier, The Pioneer had highlighted patients and their attendants’ concerns over regular traffic congestion caused by private vehicles plying within the hospital premises. They had told this correspondent that the visitors would often enter the hospital building in four-wheelers, leading to traffic logjam and altercation, hindering emergency treatment due to the same entry and exit points. In response, the hospital administration had assured prompt action to resolve the issue. Thereafter, the revised traffic management plan, which included separate entry and exit points, was implemented but failed after a few days. Due to this, the traffic congestion issue continues.
Many patients and their attendants have once again raised concerns about the ongoing congestion. One patient, Ridhi Verma said that the traffic congestion within the District Hospital premises has been a longstanding issue, eluding an enduring solution. “The single entry and exit point for four-wheelers often results in clashes, ending up in significant traffic delays. This congestion is particularly problematic for emergency cases that require prompt access to care. Consequently, ambulances often find themselves waiting stuck in traffic queues,” she said.
Queried on these concerns, the principal medical superintendent at the Hospital Dr Manu Jain stated that when the issue of traffic congestion had been initially raised, the hospital administration had promptly implemented separate entry and exit points specifically for private vehicles while allowing ambulances to use the same entry and exit routes. “The designated exit point for four-wheelers was set up at the back gate of the hospital. However, after a few days, visitors approached the hospital administration expressing concerns about the longer routes they had to take due to the separate entry and exit points,” Dr Jain said.
Jain further said that winter is typically a healthy season, resulting in lower patient footfall. “Consequently, the revised traffic management plan for separate entry and exit points has been put on hold. However, with the hospital administration committed to provide better services to patients, the plan will be re-implemented in the upcoming summer season, which is expected to see an increase in patient visits,” Dr Jain.
