Emergency situation: Influx of VIP entourages, anxious families come between LRH staff and work

Security arrangements at the hospital remained inadequate.

PESHAWAR: Inadequate security arrangements and the movement of VIPs at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) hindered doctors and paramedical staff on Sunday.

Following the blast at Qissa Khwani Bazaar on Sunday afternoon, the injured and the dead were shifted to the LRH. At least 38 people died and 91 were injured after a car packed with hundreds of kilogrammes of explosives blew up in the historic market.

As expected, hundreds rushed to the LRH – one of the biggest in the city – in search of their loved ones. To add to the chaos, politicians accompanied by their plentiful entourages also started showing up at the hospital.

However, while politicos concerned themselves with political baiting and criticising rival parties’ performances, the bereaved looked for corners to weep in and mourn their losses. Security guards, meanwhile, seemed unable to control the flow of people in the hospital. A similar situation was seen on September 22 after the twin suicide blasts at All Saints’ Church.

LRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Arshad Javed told The Express Tribune an emergency had been declared at the LRH; additional doctors and nurses had been called in from Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex.

Hospital staff found it difficult to administer treatment because of the large number of people visiting the hospital in the wake of the incident, said Dr Javed. He admitted security arrangements at the hospital was inadequate.

“A lack of proper security measures mean nearly 15 people accompany one patient and surround his or her bedside, making it difficult for us to attend to the patient,” shared Head Nurse Sajida.

LRH’s Dr Faisal complained the flow of visitors hampered their work. “The people are not cooperating with the hospital staff. All patients are equal to us and our first priority is to save lives.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2013.