Wenlock turned away critical dengue patient, allege parents

UDUPI/MANGALURU:Refusal on the part of Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru to admit a dengue patient has come to light.A ten year-old girl identified as Badamma who was studying in Class 6 in a school in Katapady was suffering from dengue fever. Her parents Parashu and Neelamma who work as daily wage labourers went to admit her to Government Maternity and Paediatric Hospital, Udupi on Tuesday at around 5.30 pm. The doctors said that her condition is critical and that there is little chance of her survival. The doctors also advised the parents to take their daughter to Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru.

They also told the parents that they have already informed about their arrival in Government Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru and told them to take the girl to Mangaluru by an ambulance.
When the ambulance reached the hospital in Mangaluru at around 7 pm, the hospital authorities at Government Wenlock hospital allegedly refused admission to the patient and cited bed shortage as the reason. Despite the couple repeatedly begging the doctors to admit their child, they declined. The hapless parents had to return disappointed.

It was 10.45 pm when the girl was taken out from the ambulance and was admitted at Adarsha hospital.
When contacted, H R Rajeshwari, District Surgeon and Medical Superintendent, Government Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru, told Express that all the 12 beds in the paediatric intensive care unit and 8 beds in the step down ICU were full.

“Our doctors would have explained that there are no beds available, but I do not have the documents to speak about the alleged case of Badamma being denied treatment at our hospital,’’ she said.