While OPD at Private Hospitals were Shut, Govt Wenlock Hospital came to the Rescue of Patients
Mangaluru: Thousands of private hospitals, diagnostic centres and clinics, including those in Mangaluru shut down shutters today, Monday, 17 June 2019 in protest against the attack on a junior doctor at NRC College & Hospital, Kolkota, and also attacks on doctors in other places in the past. While inpatient services (that is, continued treatment for those who are in hospitals), emergency cases and ambulance services not affected due to the strike, out-patient and diagnostics services in medical establishments RE closed for the day, as per the Mangaluru Chapter of Indian Medical Association. All branches of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had directed to ensure establishments of their members remain closed.
And one good news for the out-patients who couldn’t avail the services at private hospitals, Govt hospitals in Mangaluru, including Wenlock Hospital have come to their rescue and are ready to handle additional pressure. Patients in the city were seen crowded at the Wenlock Hospital for OP treatments. As per the clerk at Wenlock Hospital, the registration of the patients today was thrice more than the other days- and that all arrangements had been made with extra medical personnel to handle the mass.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Dr Julian Saldanha, the RMO at Wenlock said, ” On an average, the hospital receives around 1,000 patients in the outpatient facility, but today the numbers have increased twice or three times more until noon. But patients don’t have to worry- it could take a little extra time to treat each one of them, but we will see that everyone gets the treatment irrespective of rich or poor. We are here to provide good health care to the patients, and we will keep our commitment, no matter what. We have an excellent team of doctors and experienced nurses and staff, who are all ready to handle today’s patients, and we will do our best to provide the best treatment and service. But it’s a sad situation that doctors have to face attacks from the kith and kin of the patients, and for that Govt should come up with a stern law to punish the culprits, so that doctors can continue their duties without fear”.
Satish Poojary, a patient of a Private hospital after getting treated for his broken arm speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” I thought I could manage until tomorrow, but the pain was terrible. I had no option than to visit Govt Wenlock Hospital- even though I had to wait on the queue for some time, but it was worth the wait. I was taken good care by the two doctors and a nurse, and they even offered me a bottle of water, which you normally don’t get elsewhere. All this service was for free, you can’t beat that deal. I will go back to Wenlock for my next check-up. My sincere thanks to everyone at Wenlock, who helped me when I needed care”.
Radhika Shetty, a professor at a well-known institution (an arthritis patient) speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” I had the same problem last time when the doctors went on a day’s strike, and once again I am put into all this inconvenience being a senior citizen. There is nothing wrong in getting treatment at Wenlock, but since I am used to the private hospital, it makes me little hesitant- but I am happy with the care at Wenlock today. Being so well educated, why don’t these private doctors think before they plan on a strike. I support doctors demands because what the government has done nothing in protecting them from violence, and also by enforcing the laws. But our “life savers” doctors should think of a better way to fight for their grievances, rather than putting their patients in hardship by observing a day’s strike. I doubt that they will accomplish anything from the one-day strike, other than hear the agony and curses of the sick and the dying”.
“I was hoping that my mother won’t get sick today, but unfortunately she showed some symptoms due to her diabetes- and I had no other option than take her to Wenlock Hospital- and she was very happy the way the management and doctors treated there. I usually take her to a renowned hospital, but with this unnecessary strike called by the private doctors at private hospitals which has put many patients in hardship, I had to try Govt Wenlock Hospital- and while entering the hospital we were greeted by hospital superintendent Dr HR Rajeshwari Devi, and RMO Dr Julian Saldanha, who made all the arrangements for the proper treatment of my mother. The doctors and nurses were very courteous and caring, and my mother was overwhelmed with the service and treatment she got here- and she has very much decided to come for her future treatment at Wenlock. And the best part was that my mother’s treatment today was absolutely FREE” said Jackson Fernandes
