No bones about it: LRH lacking crucial orthopaedic equipment

Several patients looking for ITM and DHS referred to other hospitals .

PESHAWAR:

It may be the province’s largest and best-equipped medical facility, but Lady Reading Hospital lacks basic facilities at its Orthopaedic Ward’s operation theatre. Needless to say, the absence of vital equipment creates a host of problems and complication for patients.

The influx of patients seeking medical assistance from the hospital’s qualified doctors has further highlighted the lack of equipment, an LRH official said while requesting anonymity.

“I can only speak about the orthopaedic ward where patients complain about the unavailability of an image table machine (ITM) used for interlocking nailing (ILN) and the dynamic hip screw (DHS),” the official said. “Such equipment has been out of order for a year and patients in need have been turned back.”

He added an average of five patients complained about the lack of an ITM and DHS on a daily basis and are referred to the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) or Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC).

Another technician revealed the Spica Table, used to hold children in place when applying plaster, has been out of order since 2013.

The orthopaedic ward’s equipment at Lady Reading Hospital. PHOTO: UMER FAROOQ/EXPRESS

A doctor at the ward said hospital authorities have also been told about the dysfunctional arthroscope. “I cannot say with certainty which government was ruling at the time, but I read in some files that the administration lacked the funds to purchase the necessary equipment and needed money from the finance department.” He said the arthroscope, ITM and Spica Table would cost around Rs10 million.

Head of the Orthopaedic Ward, Dr Shahabuddin said the administration was told about these issues a year ago, but little has been done. The administration earlier wanted to purchase imported items for the sake of quality, medics said, but the equipment was now needed on an urgent basis.

When asked, the LRH Deputy Medical Superintendent for Stores, Dr Saeed Ahmad, confirmed they had advertised for the orthopaedic equipment and hoped the items would be available for patients in the near future.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2015.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the accompanying photographs were of the operation theatre. The error is regretted.