The Rawalian Burn Centre (RBC) at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) is in pathetic condition because of unhygienic environment and lack of proper medicare facilities for patients.
During a visit to the RBC by this correspondence, it was observed that the poor hygienic condition and lack of much-needed equipments in the RBC was enough to belie the tall claims by Punjab government of bringing about revolutionary changes in health sector.
In 2009, Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif announced that the center would be upgraded to 30-bed center in order to handle the increasing number of burn cases, but he has yet to honour his promise despite lapse of eight years.
The RBC being the only facility in District Rawalpindi lacks basic health facilities due to which the patients could be seen lying on beds helplessly.
It was noted that the center has no ventilator and patients are referred to surgical wards of the hospital, which is tantamount to further risk their life, because burn patients need special environment.
Medical experts suggest that burns units should have sterilised isolated environment with separate bathrooms and tubs to prevent cross-infections. Moreover, the staffers as well as the visitors have to wear proper shoe and head covers, while rooming in the facility.
However, ironically neither the staffers nor the attendees were following this protocol at the center, as they could be seen going to and fro sans shoe and head covers.
It was noted that there was not a single doctor was present in the center, as only two junior nurses were present there.
When asked about the doctor, they said that Dr. Ayesha is there who is looking all the affairs, however when asked where she is right now, they said that she is in the emergency.
However, after waiting for almost an hour and visiting all the departments in search of her, but she was nowhere in the facility.
A lady doctor at the main emergency said that since she is the only doctor looking all the burn patients; hence she might be busy somewhere with patients. However actually there was not a single doctor present there.
To a question as how they would deal the emergency cases, the visibly perturbed doctor said that doctors are present there to deal with any emergency situation.
A senior doctor at the HFH wishing anonymity told Pakistan Today that the doctors at RBC referred serious patients to surgical ward because there is no ventilator in the RBC.
