PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The alleged long wait an elderly patient was forced to make for receiving treatment at the floor of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital’s emergency department has triggered concern over patient care. The incident has angered local residents who said if government hospitals function this way, those unable to afford private healthcare will be left with nowhere to go. Hospital administration, however, claimed the elderly man was examined and has appealed for patience, assuring that no patient returns without treatment. According to the reports, the said elderly man, Puran Thapa, sustained serious head injuries on June 22 and was treated at GDMC Hospital’s emergency. Doctors asked him to return for a follow-up after a few days.
On Thursday around 12 noon, Thapa came back for the check-up. After completing registration, he reached the surgery triage at 12:30 PM. Thapa alleged the doctor asked him to wait outside for some time. He sat on the floor of the outer gallery and waited nearly an hour before being attended to.
When contacted the medical superintendent at GDMC Hospital Dr RS Bisht claimed that Thapa was examined on arrival. He was asked to wait briefly for dressing as another emergency case was being handled. Doctors at the emergency department have been instructed to provide immediate treatment. “Senior doctors from every department visit the emergency and I personally monitor it every morning,” Bisht said.
He appealed to patients to remain patient, assuring that “no one will be sent back from the hospital without treatment.
