H1N1 scare grips Surat as docs go on vacation

The number of cases of swine flu has been on the rise in Surat. With Diwali approaching and many doctors on leave, the authorities of the civic health department in the city are a worried lot.

Many doctors at the New Civil Hospital are already on vacations because of which other doctors are handling cases of swine flu apart from handling regular cases.

On Thursday too, eleven more suspected cases were detected at various hospitals in the city during a medical check up. In the last one month, the situation has worsened and hospitals such as New Civil Hospital, SMIMER Hospital, Mahavir Cardiac Hospital do not even have more space in their isolation ward.

The beds at the New Civil hospital have been occupied and there has been an ever increasing number of suspected swine flu cases pouring in.

Many doctors had planned their vacation for Diwali. Majority of doctors in medicine department of NCH have already gone for vacation, while MK Wadhel, superintendent of New Civil hospital is already on vacation. Sources say that Wadhel has not authorized any doctor to take charge under his absence.

"The H1N1 cases at present are being handled by seven doctors in the emergency ward, who also have to check regular cases. There is only one doctor who handles the isolation ward. The situation may worsen post Diwali as there will be limited staff to deal with pool of swine flu cases," a doctor at new civil hospital said, requesting anonymity.

The isolation ward at New Civil hospital has a bed capacity of 14 and looking at the flow of patients, hospital administration is planning to create one more ward for swine flu patients.