Lucknow : Govt hospitals in the city have been put on high alert during Diwali festivities, with more than 180 beds earmarked for emergency and burn patients and round-the-clock medical arrangements strengthened.
Civil Hospital has reserved 58 beds for burn treatment, including 25 for burn patients, eight in the emergency ward and 25 in the general ward. Balrampur Hospital has set aside 11 beds in its burn ward and 10 in the emergency department. Balrampur Hospital’s OPD will remain open until noon on Diwali, 2 pm on Sunday and noon on Monday and Tuesday.
Chief medical officer Dr NB Singh said all Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) had been directed to remain vigilant and reserve beds for burn victims. KGMU Trauma Centre chief medical superintendent Dr Prem Raj Singh said the centre was prepared to handle emergencies involving firecracker burns, road accidents and other trauma cases. “All doctors’ leaves have been cancelled and additional senior residents from the plastic surgery, trauma surgery, ENT, ophthalmology and general surgery departments have been deployed for round-the-clock duty,” he said. Emergency services will remain available round the clock, medical superintendent Dr PK Srivastava said.
Civil Hospital, Balrampur Hospital, Lok Bandhu Hospital, King George’s Medical University (KGMU) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) have activated special emergency protocols. Lok Bandhu Hospital has reserved six beds each for burn, respiratory and orthopaedic cases. KGMU’s plastic surgery department is also on alert. Hospitals have stocked up on medicines, intravenous fluids and dressing materials. At RMLIMS, doctors from the eye, ENT, dermatology and surgical departments have been asked to remain on standby, while beds and medicines have been reserved for burn patients. Spokesperson Dr Bhuwan Tiwari urged residents to follow firecracker safety guidelines.