John Wilbert & Nishar Mohammed
Port Blair, July 22: The night of July 19, 2018, was like living the worst nightmare for family members, Mrs. Shadab Begum, 43 years, who died at G B Pant hospital at 10.43 PM on that day.
Mrs. Shadab Begum was a cancer patient and was in very critical stage when she was rushed to G B Pant Hospital at around 6.30 PM on July 19, by her family members.
According to family members, at G B Pant Hospital, she was first admitted in casualty section where nurses were unable to find pulse and hence at nearly 9.15 nurses referred her to FS II and a ward boy and family members were requested to take the patient to the FS II. After reaching FS II, family members were shocked to see that the nurse incharge of the FS II refused to admit the patient giving several excuses.
Family members were also shocked to see the rude behavior of the nurse, who later directed the family members to take her to nearby ward. Again in next ward the patient was not given admission and the patient, in very critical stage, was made to wait for nearly 45 minutes in the lobby.
Later a doctor, reached the patient, who asked the Aaya to take the patient to ICU but at that point of time where every second was crucial, the Aaya took the patient in wrong direction.
When finally the patient reached ICU again there was problem with the entry and there was a delay of five minutes.
Anyhow by the time the patient was taken inside the ICU, it was too late and some doctors, who reportedly reached too late, also could not save the patient. The patient ultimately breathed her last at 10.43 PM.
Disappointed by such careless attitude of G B Pant hospital, the doctors and nurses the family members are now demanding serious inquiry in this episode as timely action could have saved on life.
“It is of great comfort for patient and attendants if Doctors and Nurses even talk to them properly and give some medical attention but in this case forget about talking, the behavior of nurses and doctors, except a few, were unbelievably rude and nobody cared about saving life of the patient,” alleged one family member.
Andaman Sheekha team tried to call the DHS and also some other senior Doctors from the spot but no one picked to the call, enough to show how badly the G B Pant Hospital is managed.
Later on Saturday when contacted the Director of Health Services, Dr. S P Burma assured Andaman Sheekha that a meeting will be called soon to find out what went wrong that day and why such incident took place. He assured that the meeting will be called within seven days and Andaman Sheekha only hopes that the meeting is called and action is taken before death of another patient, because of such glaring negligence.
Problem is that since last many years neither the Lt. Governor nor the Chief Secretary ever pays a surprise visit to institutes like G B Pant to see what are the ground realities and hence some junior level officers have taken things too lightly, for which now Islanders are paying the price.
Public feels that as head of the state and Administration the Lt. Governor and Chief Secretary must devote some time for such inspections, which can ultimately save many lives.
