Allied hospitals to remain on high alert, OPDs to remain closed

Rawalpindi:The three teaching hospitals in town including Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital would remain on high alert on 9th and 10th of Muharram-ul-Haram, Tuesday and Wednesday, to provide emergency medical cover to public however outpatient departments of the allied hospitals would not operate during Muharram holidays.

The administrations of the allied hospitals claimed to have made all necessary arrangements for dealing with, God forbid, any bigger emergency if occurs on 9th and 10th of Muharram and for the purpose, the allied hospitals have further strengthened their accident and emergency departments.

On Muharram holidays, the emergency departments along with indoor patient departments at the teaching hospitals would be fully operational. New patients would be received at the emergency departments of the allied hospitals during the two holidays, on Tuesday and Wednesday. District Headquarters Hospital has already placed an ambulance of the hospital equipped with doctor, paramedics and first aid kits that to provide medical cover to participants of the main mourning procession at College Road area while all ambulances available at the allied hospitals would also be ready for back-up if needed. An ambulance of the BBH would also provide medical cover to mourning processions in Sadiqabad area and main imambargah.

Principal Rawalpindi Medical College and In-charge Allied Hospitals Professor Dr. Jahangir Sarwar Khan informed ‘The News’ on Monday that almost all the staff of the surgical departments of the allied hospitals would be on call on Muharram holidays. He added that duty rosters have already been distributed among the staff performing special duties during Muharram.

Two teaching hospitals, BBH and DHQ are following a specific plan regarding preparedness and have arranged all the required medicines and equipment at the emergency departments. In case of any bigger emergency, additional beds can be arranged at the emergency departments of the two hospitals while the HFH, that is being revamped, would provide emergency medical services at the paediatrics and gynaecology departments.

Medical Superintendent at HFH Dr. Ijaz Butt said control rooms have been established at the emergency departments of the allied hospitals under supervision of senior administrative staff that would closely monitor the situation on 9th and 10th of Muharram. The allied hospitals would provide medical cover to participants of the mourning processions at the spot and staff of the hospitals including doctors would be available to participants in ambulances at various points, routes of the mourning processions and near to imambargahs, he added.