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Lack of stretchers make patients lie on hospital floor

When DNA found her lying on the floor at 3 in the afternoon, she said that she has been waiting for a stretcher since 8 in the morning.

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Meera Devi’s relatives carry her in Lok Nayak hospital
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Walk into any Delhi government hospital and you will find patients lying on floors waiting for their turn or in some cases, just waiting to find a stretcher to be taken to their respective wards.

Meera Devi, 60, has been visiting the Lok Nayak hospital with her son, Bipin Kumar for the last two months. A native of Chhapra in Bihar, she suffers from cancer in her left leg. The tumour has spread and she is on chemotherapy and thus is unable to walk.

When DNA found her lying on the floor at 3 in the afternoon, she said that she has been waiting for a stretcher since 8 in the morning.

The hospital has a daily footfall of over 5,000 patients in their Out-Patient Department, some of whom are serious cases. The hospital has only three trolleys (stretchers) and six wheelchairs, in their OPD, catering to the needs of these patients. Clearly, a lot of these patients have to either wait or be carried by the relatives.

"I have tried in every department for a stretcher since morning," said Raju Kumar, 19, a relative to Meera Devi, who was admitted in the hospital for a tumour early last year. "The stretcher was a problem even when I was admitted here. Today I have tried getting a stretcher from the main gate, the Orthopaedic department, and even Emergency, but we are still waiting," he added.

When DNA spoke to doctors in the hospital asking them as to why many patients were lying on the floors, the medical faculty denied there was a major problem.

"With a footfall of over 1,000 patients a day and 17 trolleys and 10 wheelchairs, we are still better equipped in the casualty then the rest of the hospital," says Doctor Ritu Saxena, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Department of Accident and Emergency, Lok Nayak Hospital.

It isn't just Lok Nayak Hospital. DNA also visited the GB Pant hospital and a similar report could be made on the low numbers of stretchers and wheelchairs at the hospital.

"We know about the problem and are purchasing new stretchers/wheelchairs for the same," said Doctor Rajiv Chawla, Director, GB Pant hospital. Dr Chawla however refused to share numbers and the expected cost.

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