Technological advancements: LRH introduces computerised queuing system

New slip system to discourage VIP culture: LRH PRO

PESHAWAR: Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) administration has launched a computerised queue system for the outpatient department to help patients obtain a slip for their turn before meeting doctors.

The decision was taken following congestion in waiting rooms, at the counter where people waited for their turn. Patients can now obtain a token from the queue system and get their turn after the token number is displayed.

Too many patients

This new system is also meant to reduce the load on the staffers as over 4,500 people register at the outpatient department of the hospital on a daily basis. Ten of these machines have been reserved for males, seven for women and one for people with disabilities.



“It will reduce pressure on our staff members. That was the reason why the queue system was introduced. Besides, it will also discourage the VIP culture,” LRH PRO Jamil Shah told The Express Tribune. He stated the same token number will be displayed outside rooms of the doctors where everyone will enter the room according to their turns.

A ceremony to inaugurate the queue system was scheduled and people were invited. However, the board of governors refused to go through with the ceremony, saying “We should not waste time and money on inauguration, and let the system start,” Shah said, adding the system has started working.

Helping hospitals

The provincial health department is in the process of devising a law to help hospitals efficiently deal with influx of patients, specifically at the three teaching hospitals since they are under-equipped and overburdened. The government, according to officials of the health department, is likely to introduce a new mechanism whereby patients with minor diseases from tehsil headquarters and district headquarters hospitals will not be referred to the provincial capital.

A health department official told The Express Tribune the ban will be imposed to reduce burden on the hospitals in the provincial capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2015.