Facilities remain under-utilised

THE APATHY of planners and policy makers is resulting in under-utilisation of facilities at state-of-the-art Trauma Centre at MY Hospital. Regular staff is put on duty only by 2 pm while the Centre operates on need-basis during rest of the day.

THE APATHY of planners and policy makers is resulting in under-utilisation of facilities at state-of-the-art Trauma Centre at MY Hospital. Regular staff is put on duty only by 2 pm while the Centre operates on need-basis during rest of the day.

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The Centre has centralised oxygen facility, an operation theatre – fairly well equipped for a government set up – and all necessary facilities to handle any kind of emergency. However, it is marred by the absence of trained human resources.

The administration had issued a notice to the committee of all heads of departments to come up with suggestions for proper utilisation of the Trauma Centre but sadly nothing has been done as yet.

MY Hospital superintendent Dr D K Jain said, “It is about a month now that I had asked the committee to tell me what they want. They have not come up with any suggestions and demands. What can I do?”

On the ground of anonymity, sources at the Centre said half-day working hours are probably the result of inadequate staff to run services on a 24-hour basis. “Will an accident occur after asking you if the staff is on duty?” sources asked. There is need for monitoring equipment in the operation theatre but barring few equipment, there is no trained staff to operate them.

The Centre was set up at an approximate budget of Rs 90 lakh but due to the “who is bothered” attitude, the facility is not being judiciously utilised. Though the appointments are not made at the hospital-level and much is left to be desired when it comes to the State government policies, does that mean the high-value well-equipped facility be let to rust?