New guards to take charge at LRH on Aug 1

Decision was taken after caregivers held hospital’s emergency hostage

PESHAWAR: Lady Reading Hospital’s (LRH) administration has enhanced security arrangements at the facility. New guards will be on duty, starting August 1.

LRH Director Dr Adnan Taj said ex-service men have been hired on a one-year contract. He said the hospital administration was not pleased with the performance of the private security personnel. Therefore, it decided to seek help from K-P police.

“We took up the issue with police, who have promised to train the security guards for the hospital, and provide them ammunition.” Taj said both the hospital management and the police department will maintain a record of the performance of the hospital security guards.

With the new security arrangement on the premises, the number of security guards will reach 100. The security personnel will be deputed in different departments.

LRH DSP Sajid Mumtaz said they designed the plan to improve security at the hospital in detail. “We already had our officers within the LRH premises. However, with the new plan, security will be tightened  in all aspects,” he said.

Behind the scene

The decision to enhance security at the hospital was taken following an incident that took place in June.

On June 26, about 35 people stormed the LRH emergency centre as well as trauma centre after their relative succumbed to his injuries.

The enraged protesters held the hospital staff responsible for the death of Safeer, a 34-year-old truck driver. Safeer was brought to the ward after the vehicle he was driving collided with a tractor-trolley. Members of Safeer’s family said Safeer could have recovered from his injuries had he received medical assistance on time.

However, hospital spokesperson Jamil Shah termed the allegations baseless and said the deceased had been brought to the hospital in critical condition and doctors had tried their best to save his life.

The hospital management later faced immense pressure from the doctors’ community, which boycotted OPD services and demanded more security on the premises. Upon assurance by the LRH management, the strike call was withdrawn.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2015.