The swine flu isolation ward, which recently opened at the Civil Hospital in Gurgaon, has been found to be ill-equipped to treat patients.

The psychiatric ward-turned-isolation ward, comprising five beds, lacks basic facilities such as ventilators and oxygen pipes. As per a recent directive by the Haryana health department, large oxygen cylinders, pulse oximeter and portable X-ray machines must be installed in every isolation ward for swine flu patients.

However, when an HT team visited the isolation ward, located on the first floor of the hospital, all facilities were found to be lacking. The ward was also found locked.

The per day charge in the isolation ward is Rs. 100 and patients are treated free of cost.

However, no medical staff was present in the hospital ward.

The hospital received its first swine flu patient on February 9 - a two-year-old boy - who was discharged after treatment on Monday.