Irked by the constant presence of media personnel and VIPs visiting injured students at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), the administration and doctors have urged them to adopt and duly follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) applicable in hospitals.
Doctors at the trauma unit as well as the LRH administration believe they would have been able to provide better medical treatment to injured people brought in on Tuesday if the media and VIPs had not kept pouring in and interfered in their work.
“A few days ago, a gunman held several people hostage in Sydney, Australia. There were casualties, but I don’t think anyone visited the hospital to check on the injured,” said an LRH administration official while stressing on the importance of medical aid for patients instead of visits from politicians.
The media as well as politicians need to follow the established SoPs of being in a hospital, he said.
Putting patients in danger
Expressing dismay over the situation in LRH on Tuesday, the official said he was shocked that some politicians went to see patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) without taking the appropriate measures. “They went inside wearing their shoes. This could have been very dangerous for the patients being treated there.”
“Aside from political figures, their armed guards also went about visiting the injured students, not only interrupting our work but also inconveniencing patients,” said a doctor at the emergency and trauma centre.
“If they (VIPs) were so affected by the tragedy, they should have offered their cars for the rescue operation or donated blood which we actually needed at that time,” added the doctor, requesting anonymity.
He said some opportunist pickpockets also took advantage of the chaos and stole cell phones from the on-duty nurses and doctors.
LRH Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Shareef Ahmed said the issue of political visitors crowding the hospital was taken up with the health department and it has imposed a ban on any further visits. “Once the medical staff begins to deal with an injured patient, they should not be bothered because they lose concentration,” said Dr Ahmed.
According to the MS, all medical officials in the trauma room have complained about the visitors.
“Representatives of the National Institute of Public Administration also visited the hospital but did not meet the injured students; instead they asked how they could be of help,” said Dr Ahmed, adding the institute donated 12 wheelchairs and promised to give cardiac monitors and ventilators as well.
The MS reiterated that pickpockets were among the crowd in the hospital that day and stole wallets and phones from staffers. He said they were disguised as doctors wearing white coats but were ultimately caught and handed over to the police.
A total of 16 injured people are currently being treated at the LRH’s orthopaedic ward, while 60 are admitted at the Combined Military Hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2014.
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