Finally, trauma centre gets neurosurgeons

Sushruta Trauma Centre will not have to transfer its critical cases any more. After almost a year of working without expert help, the centre has finally got four neurosurgeons. Jaya Shroff Bhalla reports.

Sushruta Trauma Centre will not have to transfer its critical cases any more. After almost a year of working without expert help, the centre has finally got four neurosurgeons.

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On July 18, HT had reported how at least three serious patients had to be shifted to bigger hospitals such as GB Pant and Guru Tegh Bahadur for want of neurosurgeons.

On July 20, health minister AK Walia held a meeting with the heads of GB Pant, Lok Nayak, Maulana Azad Medical College and health secretary Anshu Prakash asking them to depute neurosurgeons and radiologists at Lok Nayak within seven working days.

"Today, our parent hospital, GB Pant, sent us four neurosurgeons for round-the-clock coverage of emergency cases. We now feel completely equipped to handle all head and spine cases," said a senior doctor from Sushruta Trauma Centre, unwilling to be named.

"We have received a three-month roster according to which four neurosurgeons, all super-specialists, will handle our trauma cases. Now, we can keep all our three operating theatres functional even at night," he said. Doctors are happy that will not have to transfer critical cases anymore.

"Earlier, it was a standalone hospital. We have linked it to GB Pant hospital, so there is no shortage of surgeons," said Prakash, health secretary, Delhi government. "This arrangement was there (on paper) ever since Sushruta was taken over by Lok Nayak, but there seemed to have been some teething problems in the implementation. We are happy that things are now streamlined," he said.

The centre has also got radiology doctors to man its X-ray and CT scan departments. The administration is now working on improving the infrastructure. "Since our patient load is so huge, we will now work to make a 40-bedded ward on our second floor," said a senior doctor.

"So far we have been getting cover for plastic surgeons and vascular surgeon from our parent hospitals – GB Pant and Lok Nayak hospital. We also want to extend it for cardiothoracic and gastro-surgery covers as and when required," he said.