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Boy dies due to lack of life-saving equipment at Patiala hospital
The death of 10-year-old boy allegedly due to lack of life-saving equipment at the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Rajindra hospital on Saturday has raised a question mark on the emergency facilities at the hospital. Navrajdeep Singh reports.
The death of 10-year-old boy allegedly due to lack of life-saving equipment at the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Rajindra hospital on Saturday has raised a question mark on the emergency facilities at the hospital.
Even the doctors at the paediatric department admitted that the child could have been saved had there been a proper ventilator facility in the department.
"Though the child was brought to the hospital in a serious condition, the availability of life-saving equipment might have helped doctors save his life," he said.
Not even a single ventilator in the paediatric intensive care unit has been provided for the past several years.
Hardeep Singh was referred to the hospital from a private local hospital on Saturday morning following a complaint of dehydration.
The doctors at the emergency referred him to the paediatric ward, where he died after the staff failed to provide him life-saving equipment on time.
The paediatrics department lacks modern and updated equipment.
One of the doctors said that in the past three months, 11 air-conditioners were bought to be installed in medical stores and doctors' rooms.
"The authorities have spent lakhs on renovation and furnishing of doctors' rooms but have turned a blind eye to the need for providing essential equipment like ventilators," said a doctor.
Despite several requests to provide ventilators at NICU and PICU, the authorities allegedly failed to pay heed to the demand of the department.
"The proposals were repeatedly sent to the authorities, but to no avail. Even a fresh proposal has been sent recently, demanding adequate ventilators and other updated equipment in the department," he said.
"The authorities should provide the life-saving equipment in the department in the near future to augment the emergency facilities at NIKU and PIKU," he added.
