Attendants of patients still find way to Covid wards

Coimbatore: A day after TOI reported that most of the government hospitals were allowing attendants for Covid-19 patients, the ESI Hospital in the city on Tuesday sent them out around 9.30am, but only to allow in a few attendants in less than two hours as many elderly patients, including those in the intensive care units (ICU), could not be managed without them.
While the hospital authorities said there were only less than 10 attendants inside, sources among the patients said the number was much higher.
On last Sunday, director of public health T S Selvavinayagam had issued an order banning entry of attendants in Covid wards of hospitals. He said the attendants were venturing out without the personal protection equipment kits and spreading the virus.
Despite his order, most of the government hospitals, including the ESI Hospital and the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, continued to allow the attendants. TOI had carried pictures of attendants in government hospitals in the edition that was published on Wednesday.

In a swift response, the ESI Hospital removed all the attendants under the supervision of hospital dean Dr Raveendran on Wednesday morning itself. However, within half an hour, trouble broke out. “Many elderly patients on oxygen support who wanted to get the nurses’ attention to report a symptom, use the toilet or to sit up were left helpless, as there wasn’t anyone to attend to them. And they began shouting from the ICU. While the hospital is taking care of patients extremely well, nurses can’t handle all this workload,” said Raviraj Kanth, an attendant of a Covid patient.TNN