Post News Network
Rayagada, Feb 3: In yet another example of poor service by ambulance operating agencies, a 30-year-old woman suffering from burn injuries in this town had to wait for several hours before being shifted to Berhampur-based MKCG Medical College and Hospital as the ambulance failed to reach on time.
Reports said Pankajini Gouda, wife of Niranjan Gouda of Dhepaguda under Kalyansinghpur block, had sustained severe burns while she was sitting beside a bonfire January 11. She was immediately rushed to Kalyansinghpur community health centre and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital (DHH).
However, despite undergoing treatment for 23 days at the DHH no improvement in her condition was noticed. Rather, her injuries aggravated with infection. As a result, doctors at the hospital referred her to MKCG Medical College and Hospital for better treatment. Pankajini was discharged from the DHH Monday night so that she could be shifted to the Berhampur hospital. Tuesday morning, her family members called for a 108 ambulance. However, the ambulance did not reach there even after several hours. Thereupon, Pankajini’s family members apprised hospital manager SB Mishra of the matter.
Mishra telephoned the ambulance operator, who told him that ambulance couldn’t be sent to the DHH immediately as it was being repaired. The patient’s family again contacted the operator after some time. This time, the operator told them that no 108 ambulance was available in the town and if required, an ambulance deployed at JKPur can be called. The operator told the patient’s family to contact the authorities at JKPur health centre in this regard. All the while, the patient had to writhe in pain in her wait for ambulance.
Pankajini’s family members requested the health centre authorities at JKPur to send an ambulance to the DHH immediately. Finally, an ambulance reached the DHH at 3 pm, following which the woman was shifted to Berhampur.