MARGAO
Health officials grappled with teething problems at the South Goa districtCovid hospital, four days after its commissioning, with attendants of patientsand security coming face to face on Wednesday morning over breakfastarrangements for the patients and attendants.
Attendants of patients claimed that they were not providedbreakfast. They claimed some of the patients too had to go without breakfast,allegedly because of shortage.
They claimed that patients, who opted for home food atlunch, were supplied tiffins left by relatives late, though these were left ontime at the lobby.
The relatives alleged that the security was reportedly notwilling to drop the tiffins to the patients without checking. They said no warmwater facility was made available and not many kettles were found in the wards.
Taking cognizance of the situation, doctors manning thedistrict hospital moved quickly and went into a huddle and decided to come outwith a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for attendants (caretakers) of patients.
The new SOP will allow attendants with the patients onlyafter they undergo a Covid test. The attendant will not be allowed to move outof the wards until the discharge of the patient. Given Wednesday’s bitterexperience, the SOP makes provision for food not only for the patients but forthe attendants as well.
The SOP has allowed home food for the patients and theattendants if the disposable containers are left at the hospital lobby.
The situation brought to the fore teething problemsfollowing a rush of patients from the ESI Covid hospital and Goa MedicalCollege hospital since midnight.
While admitting that issues over food arose at the hospital,including provision for warm water and kettles in the wards, a doctor in theknow attributed the situation to the rush of patients to the district hospitalsince midnight.
“There were around 20 patients admitted to the new hospital,but the figure almost doubled between midnight and 5 am on Wednesday. Theproblem arose since the new hospital has no canteen facility and the contractorsupplies the food from Panaji,” informed a doctor. Around 43 patients arepresently admitted in the South district Covid hospital.
The doctor, however, reminded that the government haddecided not to allow attendants of patients in the South Goa district Covid hospital.
“The decision not to allow attendants for the patients wastaken since only patients, who are on the way to recovery, will be admitted tothe hospital, besides patients with mild or moderate infection,” the doctorsaid.
The doctor added that the new SOP will allow attendants forthe patients. The attendants will be entitled to free food provided they complywith the new SOP, which includes a Covid test.
Also, they will have to stay put in the ward until the patientis discharged.
