Towards a healthier nation: LRH imposes ban on overnight attendants
VVIPs stay for photography sessions, impeding staff’s work
Lady Reading Hospital. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
The influx of unnecessary attendants accompanying patients at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and creating makeshift overnight abodes on the premises, has forced the administration to take strict measures.
On October 31, a ban was imposed on both activities through a notification issued by the LRH administration.
As per the document, attendants accompanying the patient cannot stay on the hospital premises overnight.
“Only two attendants or relatives are permitted to enter the hospital premises with any patient at any time and they are not permitted to sleep on the premises, including lawns, verandas and parking lots,” it added.
The need
The decision to impose the ban was taken for the comfort and safety of patients and hospital staff and to curtail all obstacles that stand in the way of fast and effective treatment at the facility.
Talking to The Express Tribune, LRH administration officials said the ban was imposed following a series of complaints made by the public. “People lying down in verandas, the lawn and empty spaces almost anywhere in the hospital was becoming an increasing burden on the hospital administration,” an official said.
“You can neither move freely nor carry a patient quickly and easily to departments like the emergency in case of an accident,” said another official, requesting anonymity. “The number of attendants is four times more than the patients,” he added.
Additional hurdles
The official said the administration should also impose a ban on the movement of VVIPs since they added to the difficulties, specifically when bomb blasts, earthquakes or any other unfortunate calamity occurs. “They come for photography sessions and, believe me, can create hurdles in our job,” he added.
He said VVIPs do not understand and continue to pose impediments for hospital staff despite several warnings from intelligence officials. “It is highly likely the board of governors will issue another notification banning the entry of VVIPs in emergency situations,” the official added.
“Since people do not find places to sleep, they just lie down on sheets anywhere they find space,” another official said. “They eat there and leave their leftovers behind, littering the area and attracting stray animals,” he added.
When contacted, LRH Focal Person Dr Ghulam Subhani said the decision was taken after a thorough discussion. “The board of governors deemed it necessary to impose the ban not only in the interest of patients, but also that of hospital staff,” he said.
Mixed feelings
A large number of residents of Peshawar have expressed divergent views on the ban on attendants and their makeshift abodes.
“I don’t think this is a good decision since only those people who are absolutely needed accompany patients at the hospital,” Shabbir Ahmad, who was visiting a sick relative at LRH, told The Express Tribune. He added according to their family’s tradition, relatives are expected to visit people who are ill. “If I don’t visit, the next time I fall sick these people will never come to see me nor enquire after my health,” Ahmad said.
However, Aurangzeb Khan, another resident, voiced optimism over the decision.
“People bring fruits, juices and all sorts of edible items for their relatives and throw leftovers outside various wards without any concern for hygiene,” he said. Aurangzeb believed the ban was a positive step and will not only help reduce the influx of attendants, but also reduce the burden on the hospital’s resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2015.
The influx of unnecessary attendants accompanying patients at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and creating makeshift overnight abodes on the premises, has forced the administration to take strict measures.
On October 31, a ban was imposed on both activities through a notification issued by the LRH administration.
As per the document, attendants accompanying the patient cannot stay on the hospital premises overnight.
“Only two attendants or relatives are permitted to enter the hospital premises with any patient at any time and they are not permitted to sleep on the premises, including lawns, verandas and parking lots,” it added.
The need
The decision to impose the ban was taken for the comfort and safety of patients and hospital staff and to curtail all obstacles that stand in the way of fast and effective treatment at the facility.
Talking to The Express Tribune, LRH administration officials said the ban was imposed following a series of complaints made by the public. “People lying down in verandas, the lawn and empty spaces almost anywhere in the hospital was becoming an increasing burden on the hospital administration,” an official said.
“You can neither move freely nor carry a patient quickly and easily to departments like the emergency in case of an accident,” said another official, requesting anonymity. “The number of attendants is four times more than the patients,” he added.
Additional hurdles
The official said the administration should also impose a ban on the movement of VVIPs since they added to the difficulties, specifically when bomb blasts, earthquakes or any other unfortunate calamity occurs. “They come for photography sessions and, believe me, can create hurdles in our job,” he added.
He said VVIPs do not understand and continue to pose impediments for hospital staff despite several warnings from intelligence officials. “It is highly likely the board of governors will issue another notification banning the entry of VVIPs in emergency situations,” the official added.
“Since people do not find places to sleep, they just lie down on sheets anywhere they find space,” another official said. “They eat there and leave their leftovers behind, littering the area and attracting stray animals,” he added.
When contacted, LRH Focal Person Dr Ghulam Subhani said the decision was taken after a thorough discussion. “The board of governors deemed it necessary to impose the ban not only in the interest of patients, but also that of hospital staff,” he said.
Mixed feelings
A large number of residents of Peshawar have expressed divergent views on the ban on attendants and their makeshift abodes.
“I don’t think this is a good decision since only those people who are absolutely needed accompany patients at the hospital,” Shabbir Ahmad, who was visiting a sick relative at LRH, told The Express Tribune. He added according to their family’s tradition, relatives are expected to visit people who are ill. “If I don’t visit, the next time I fall sick these people will never come to see me nor enquire after my health,” Ahmad said.
However, Aurangzeb Khan, another resident, voiced optimism over the decision.
“People bring fruits, juices and all sorts of edible items for their relatives and throw leftovers outside various wards without any concern for hygiene,” he said. Aurangzeb believed the ban was a positive step and will not only help reduce the influx of attendants, but also reduce the burden on the hospital’s resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2015.