Parel hospital resumes operations after 2 weeks

The only operation theatre block, comprising of four theatres, at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) hospital, Parel began functioning on Thursday.

The only operation theatre block, comprising of four theatres, at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) hospital, Parel began functioning on Thursday.

HT Image

The operation theatre block had been shut for two weeks after a water leakage contaminated all the theatres.

Hindustan Times had first reported on March 4 on how patients were either being sent home or were being shifted to other hospitals because the operation theatres were contaminated.

The ongoing Rs150-crore expansion project at the hospital had caused the water leakage in the block, which led to the contamination.

The hospital, which caters to patients insured under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), shifted patients to other hospitals. Many were asked to leave halfway through their treatment and return after 15 days.

The hospital’s only patient lift, which had also been shut for nearly three months, was repaired and began functioning on Thursday.

Ganesh Binge, son of Laxman Binge, 92, who underwent an operation at the hospital said, “Not only my father, but even other patients who underwent surgeries had to be taken to their respective wards in the smaller lifts, seated in a wheelchair. Most of them were not in a position to sit after the operation.”

Hospital employees claimed that the expansion project was scheduled to end in December but has been excessively delayed. They lamented that the work has been hindering routine work at the hospital.

“I will meet the ESIC commissioner in Delhi on Monday and speak about issues the hospital is facing because of the delayed hospital construction. We will try to ensure that at least half the construction work is completed before the monsoon season,” said Dr GN Bankapur, senior state medical commissioner, ESIC hospitals.