Shortage of space at gynaecology department of HFH irks patients

Rawalpindi : Hundreds of women patients being admitted to gynaecology department of Holy Family Hospital have to suffer badly due to shortage of space in the wards even after revamping of the hospital that was completed last year.

The gynaecology and obstetrics department of the HFH has to keep two to three women patients both with antenatal (before giving birth to babies) and postnatal complications on a single bed due to shortage of space that certainly increases the chances of infection from one patient to others. After completion of revamping work, the strategic transformation of the hospital, last year, the bed capacity of the gynae department was enhanced but still the patients have to face problems due to shortage of space.

Medical Superintendent of HFH Dr. Ejaz Butt, when contacted by ‘The News’ on Saturday admitted that the gynae department of the hospital is still overburdened adding that nearly 50 per cent of the total patients being accommodated at the hospital belong to districts of the country other than Rawalpindi. The Gynae department of the HFH receives patients from Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum, Islamabad, AJ&K and districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said. He added the hospital has increased the bed capacity of the Gynae department from 232 to 392 after the revamping work last year but still the space in the wards is not sufficient to cater to the needs of heavy influx of patients reaching from far flung areas of the country. The hospital entertains each and every patient reaching its gynaecology and obstetrics department, no matter from where she belongs, he said.

The hospital administration claims that it is not possible for them to deny admission to a woman patient with antenatal or postnatal complications and due to huge influx of women patients, the hospital has to keep more than one patient on a single bed at times. Dr. Ejaz said the bed capacity of the gynae department has reached its maximum level as per space available at the Old Block of the hospital. It is important that only two departments of the HFH – Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department and Paediatrics Department – are operational in the Old Block of the hospital.

To a query, Dr. Ejaz said the problem of shortage of space at the gynae departments of the public sector hospitals in town can only be resolved after establishment of another mother and child healthcare setup with a capacity of 200 to 300 beds at least.