Hard to breathe: 27 ventilators out of order at LRH

Focal person admits hospital struggling with lack of facilities

PESHAWAR: Patients at Lady Reading Hospital are running out of breath as they struggle to survive. Ventilators at LRH in the city have not been functioning and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has yet to take steps to resolve the matter.

An LRH official on condition of anonymity told The Express Tribune 27 out of 35 ventilators in the hospital are out of order.



He said of eight ventilators at the intensive care unit, only one is in working condition. The neurosurgery ICU has eight ventilators of which only four are functioning properly. Only three out of 13 ventilators work at the cardiovascular section. The official added at least six ventilators in the cardiothoracic facility, the only one in the area, are not operating.

He pointed out ventilators were a lifeline for patients in critical condition. When contacted, LRH focal person Jamil Shah confirmed most of the ventilators in the hospital are out of order and admitted the LRH is facing a severe shortage of facilities and equipment.

He said the hospital administration has requested the health department to provide ventilators as soon as possible. Shah said Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide 11 ventilators, while Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas also promised to provide nine. Shah said 20 ventilators were being procured. He told The Express Tribune he was hopeful this undertaking would help overcome the crisis.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2016.