- Polyclinic ED says problems will be resolved soon
The poor hygienic condition, the absence of doctors, blood-soaked bed sheets, rude behaviour of staff-coupled with the lack of beds in Polyclinic emergency have added to the miseries of patients.
Federal Government Service Hospital, commonly known as Polyclinic, is one of the oldest hospitals of federal capital; however its poorly-equipped and unhygienic emergency ward speaks volumes about the government’s apathy towards the health sector.
During a visit to the emergency ward, it was noticed that the patients mainly of gastro could be seen lying on beds with visible blood stains, contaminated floor; besides, flies and insects were seeing flying in the ward with impunity that further added to woes of the patients.
The ward was full of patients and the majority of them were with complaints of vomiting and diarrhoea, as two patients were accommodated on one bed, while even some were seen lying on stretchers and even on wheelchairs.
Imdad Ullah, whose friend Raz Muhammad was admitted in the emergency, told Pakistan Today that they brought the patient to the Polyclinic emergency at 12:30am.
However, he said, they were really shocked only trainee doctors and nursing staff were present.
“When asked about the senior doctors, a nurse told us they just went out for tea,” he added.
He said that a senior paramedic told me don’t worry since I am here and called in the junior doctor instantly.
Bashir Ahmed, another attendee, said that a lady doctor told him to swiftly conduct various tests from a private laboratory because these were urgently needed.
However, he said that after conducting tests, the doctor was missing and when asked about the doctor, a nurse said that go to medical ward as you will find her there.
He said, “When I visited the medical ward I found doctors and nursing staff sleeping.”
“A security guard asked me to knock at the door of the night-shift in-charge, but he didn’t open the door seemingly he was the first person to sleep so how he could monitor the rest of the employees,” he added.
Amjid, a patient in the ward, said the bed sheets have blood stains and dustbins are without any cover, which is a constant source of trouble not only for patients but for the attendees equally, adding, the washrooms are full of filth.
He said that an injection prescribed by a junior doctor during a night shift was rejected by a senior doctor who rounded in the morning.
Amjid said that the current state of the hospital shows that the doctors are least bothered about the patients.
A nurse admitted the fact but said that it is easy to target them but no one can question senior doctors who disappeared from duty midnight while juniors were forced to stay the whole night.
A doctor, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the hospital has many problems from insufficient health facilities to a low-standard emergency ward and there is no one to take responsibility for it.
However, he said that considerable improvement could be witnessed at various departments since Dr Zahid Larik took the charge as executive director of the hospital.
To a question, he replied that when there is no bed and patient has to be admitted, they are left with no option but to set an extra bed or a stretcher outside the ward to treat him.
When Pakistan Today contacted Polyclinic ED Dr Zahid Larik, he said that there are issues and measures are being taken to resolve them.