Had got up at a half past 5, gone through the chores and was ready well in time. Hamid came in by a quarter past 6 and we soon sped to the hospital, hoping to return as early as possible so that our 'sa'arthi' could get on with his next errand of taking the children to school. The Casualty was up and about, going through its morning activities. Most of the lights were switched off.
After a certain amount of delay, one of the duty sisters asked us about our requirement. Lekha told her about the injection and a slip listing the antibiotic, along with the syringe, was handed over to me. The sequential set of events that followed are being given in cryptic form:-
(a) The pharmacist was asked for two sets of the medicine and accessories for the morning as well
as the evening requirements, since there was no one in queue at that time.
(b) The bill was given at the payment counter to pay by my credit card. However, the POS(Point
of Sale) machine wasn't working and the amount had to be given in cash. Earlier, she'd to be
told to behave because she 'thought' I'd come to collect a refund - I'd done that yesterday,
because a few medicines had to be returned! Her audacity did stun me and she had to be
rebuked and I did just that.
(c) Handed over the medicine and accessories to the duty sister, who poked the first needle into
Lekha but was unable to find a vein when I'd to tell her that the lights needed to be switched
on so that she could see properly.
(d) Then came two more sisters and all tried their luck on my poor wife, who was writhing with
pain at each poke of the needle.
(e) Finally, they insisted on putting in place a 'canula' or the adaptor that would prevent the needle
to be poked in during every visit!
We lost almost half an hour and in the meanwhile, I'd sent Hamid away because his school trip was time bound. We returned home, sad about the entire episode, but wiser! Didn't know that more bad experience was in store for us in the course of the day and that, too, from the same place!
The day passed off uneventfully with Ramesh coming in before lunch time to do up the garden all around the house to Lekha's satisfaction. And there were a lot many calls inquiring about Lekha's medical state.
We set off to the hospital by a quarter past 6 for the evening dosage of the medicine. It was the same old experience of not finding any sister who could take on the work and what puzzled me was that none of the many floating around was doing anything, but on the other hand were pretending to be terribly busy! Finally, a sister took on the job only to 'realise' that the canula was out of place after seeing a huge swelling in Lekha's hand because the antibiotic she'd injected had gone beneath the skin, instead of going in through the vein!!
She was quick to apply the antidote but insisted upon Lekha's presence for a while, on the bed. Saying that, she'd gone on another errand and every time our eyes met, she said that she would attend to Lekha within a short while. The only thing that kept her busy seemed to be her seemingly meaningless conversations with the duty doctor and other sisters!
Finally, after almost an hour, we could leave the Casualty chastened by the colossal inefficiency and sloth prevalent in the most important point of that hospital - the Casualty. A disaster of mammoth proportions is simply waiting to happen and many poor people are gonna be taken by surprise! May God take care of them.
I understand that this is the state of affairs in most of our hospitals because human beings have the least value! And then, we complain about our healthcare. What is needed is a change in attitude towards the patients!
There was another incident. The charges for taking an intravenous injection is Rs.20/- but the sisters at the Casualty has been randomly billing me from Rs. 25/- to Rs.30/-, prompting the lady at the billing section to query as to why these girls were writing higher charges. That was how I came to know of this partial behaviour towards me! Most of these young ladies hail from very poor families, so why do they do this? Beats me! Are they punishing me for their perception that I belong to the rich and the privileged? A peek into my bank balance would assure them otherwise!!
Tailpiece.
Today is the 1st of the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam and the recital of the Ramayana has begun. Lekha had begun her recital, since last evening, as per traditions. It will be vegetarianism for the entire month!
After a certain amount of delay, one of the duty sisters asked us about our requirement. Lekha told her about the injection and a slip listing the antibiotic, along with the syringe, was handed over to me. The sequential set of events that followed are being given in cryptic form:-
(a) The pharmacist was asked for two sets of the medicine and accessories for the morning as well
as the evening requirements, since there was no one in queue at that time.
(b) The bill was given at the payment counter to pay by my credit card. However, the POS(Point
of Sale) machine wasn't working and the amount had to be given in cash. Earlier, she'd to be
told to behave because she 'thought' I'd come to collect a refund - I'd done that yesterday,
because a few medicines had to be returned! Her audacity did stun me and she had to be
rebuked and I did just that.
(c) Handed over the medicine and accessories to the duty sister, who poked the first needle into
Lekha but was unable to find a vein when I'd to tell her that the lights needed to be switched
on so that she could see properly.
(d) Then came two more sisters and all tried their luck on my poor wife, who was writhing with
pain at each poke of the needle.
(e) Finally, they insisted on putting in place a 'canula' or the adaptor that would prevent the needle
to be poked in during every visit!
We lost almost half an hour and in the meanwhile, I'd sent Hamid away because his school trip was time bound. We returned home, sad about the entire episode, but wiser! Didn't know that more bad experience was in store for us in the course of the day and that, too, from the same place!
The day passed off uneventfully with Ramesh coming in before lunch time to do up the garden all around the house to Lekha's satisfaction. And there were a lot many calls inquiring about Lekha's medical state.
We set off to the hospital by a quarter past 6 for the evening dosage of the medicine. It was the same old experience of not finding any sister who could take on the work and what puzzled me was that none of the many floating around was doing anything, but on the other hand were pretending to be terribly busy! Finally, a sister took on the job only to 'realise' that the canula was out of place after seeing a huge swelling in Lekha's hand because the antibiotic she'd injected had gone beneath the skin, instead of going in through the vein!!
She was quick to apply the antidote but insisted upon Lekha's presence for a while, on the bed. Saying that, she'd gone on another errand and every time our eyes met, she said that she would attend to Lekha within a short while. The only thing that kept her busy seemed to be her seemingly meaningless conversations with the duty doctor and other sisters!
Finally, after almost an hour, we could leave the Casualty chastened by the colossal inefficiency and sloth prevalent in the most important point of that hospital - the Casualty. A disaster of mammoth proportions is simply waiting to happen and many poor people are gonna be taken by surprise! May God take care of them.
I understand that this is the state of affairs in most of our hospitals because human beings have the least value! And then, we complain about our healthcare. What is needed is a change in attitude towards the patients!
There was another incident. The charges for taking an intravenous injection is Rs.20/- but the sisters at the Casualty has been randomly billing me from Rs. 25/- to Rs.30/-, prompting the lady at the billing section to query as to why these girls were writing higher charges. That was how I came to know of this partial behaviour towards me! Most of these young ladies hail from very poor families, so why do they do this? Beats me! Are they punishing me for their perception that I belong to the rich and the privileged? A peek into my bank balance would assure them otherwise!!
Tailpiece.
Today is the 1st of the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam and the recital of the Ramayana has begun. Lekha had begun her recital, since last evening, as per traditions. It will be vegetarianism for the entire month!
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