The number of incoming patients at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) emergency unit has not decreased. Many medical staff, nurses, attendants, security officials and drivers only congregated for Eid prayers and then directly came to the hospital to perform their duties.
“I could not leave my place of duty empty because any accident could have happened,” a security personnel in the emergency unit said. Haroon Sardar, another security guard, said that he was tense throughout the morning to reach to his hospital shift in time.
Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Iftikhar Ali said that they kept a minimum number of staff on duty, but when the number patients was seen to be increasing rapidly they called other medical staff in as well.
“We received 29 cases of road accidents, out of which four were admitted and the rest were discharged. The number of minor cases reached 160,” Dr Ali said.
Lying on a bed in Surgical A ward, 22-year-old Saeed Zaman said that it would be his first Eid spent in hospital. His left arm and foot were fractured in a road accident two days ago. He was sad he would be missing the gatherings of his friends and family.
A relative of a patient, Muhammad Anwer said that he came directly to spend the second part of his day with his family member who needed much attention and care.
“If a patient is in a serious condition and you have to be with him all the time, how can you take out time to enjoy Eid” Anwer said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ