After structural audit, 2 hosps start vacating risky wards

Nagpur: Two of the oldest and most crowded government hospitals in city have been asked to vacate four wards each from their vintage buildings, constructed during British era.
After report of structural audit of the age-old buildings, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) and Daga Memorial Women and Child Hospital have started vacating vulnerable wards and adjusting patients somewhere else in the hospital. In IGGMCH (also known as Mayo hospital), ward nos. 3, 4, 7 and 8 are being vacated while Daga hospital has already vacated ward nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
As both hospitals are not having permanent alternative arrangement, they are shifting beds from these wards to some other rooms/wards for the time being. The patients, however, are set to face more inconvenience due to this makeshift arrangement.
“The structural audit report has recommended us to demolish ward nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. But, it’s not possible immediately as construction of 100-bedded mother-child health (MCH) wing is already in progress on hospital premises. So, we have decided to vacate these wards to ensure patient safety,” said medical superintendent of Daga hospital Dr Seema Parvekar.
Daga hospital has 500 beds which include 378 for mothers, 50 for paediatric department, 42 for sick newborn care unit (SNCU), 10 in nutrition rehabilitation centre (NRC) and 20 in eye department. The four vacated wards were having 80 beds.
“We have shifted these beds in other wards from the inpatient department building. Some rooms in paying ward and recovery rooms are also being used to accommodate these beds,” she said.
Parvekar said, “Construction of five-floored MCH wing is underway in full swing. We will shift these beds there. We have also submitted proposals to shift district early intervention centre (DEIC) and nutritional rehabilitation centre to other government buildings from Daga hospital so that we will get more space for these beds.”
Mayo hospital also faces similar situation. Paediatric ward nos. 7 and 8 have already been moved to ward nos. 1 and 2. Ward nos. 3 and 4 of department of pharmacology (medicine) were transferred to ward nos. 21 and 22 of gynaecology and obstetrics department building. Due to this, patients are being inconvenienced. Some patients were reportedly asked to sleep and get treatment on the floor in the ward on February 17.
“IGGMCH has submitted a proposal for a new 500-bedded building. It’s still pending with the government. For the time being, we have shifted the beds to other wards,” said assistant medical superintendent of Mayo Dr Sagar Pandey.
In December last year, a patient and a woman had died after a part of porch at old building of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) caved in. Following this, authorities in other government hospitals have started following the recommendations of structural audit report.