Caretakers and security come face to face; No canteen facility available
MARGAO
Health officials grappled with teething problems at the South Goa district Covid hospital, four days after its commissioning, with attendants of patients and security coming face to face on Wednesday morning over breakfast arrangements for the patients and attendants.
Attendants of patients claimed that they were not provided breakfast. 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 at lunch, were supplied tiffins left by relatives late, though these were left on time at the lobby.
The relatives alleged that the security was reportedly not willing to drop the tiffins to the patients without checking. They said no warm water facility was made available and not many kettles were found in the wards.
Taking cognizance of the situation, doctors manning the district hospital moved quickly and went into a huddle and decided to come out with a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for attendants (caretakers) of patients.
The new SOP will allow attendants with the patients only after they undergo a Covid test. The attendant will not be allowed to move out of the wards until the discharge of the patient. Given Wednesday’s bitter experience, the SOP makes provision for food not only for the patients but for the attendants as well.
The SOP has allowed home food for the patients and the attendants if the disposable containers are left at the hospital lobby.The situation brought to the fore teething problems following a rush of patients from the ESI Covid hospital and Goa Medical College 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 the know attributed the situation to the rush of patients to the district hospital since midnight.
“There were around 20 patients admitted to the new hospital, but the figure almost doubled between midnight and 5 am on Wednesday. The problem arose since the new hospital has no canteen facility and the contractor supplies the food from Panaji,” informed a doctor. Around 43 patients are presently admitted in the South district Covid hospital.
The doctor, however, reminded that the government had decided not to allow attendants of patients in the South Goa district Covid hospital.
“The decision not to allow attendants for the patients was taken since only patients, who are on the way to recovery, will be admitted to the hospital, besides patients with mild or moderate infection,” the doctor said.
The doctor added that the new SOP will allow attendants for the patients. The attendants will be entitled to free food provided they comply with the new SOP, which includes a Covid test. Also, they will have to stay put in the ward until the patient is discharged.
