PGIs Advanced Trauma Centre (ATC),which was conceived to provide relief to the forever bursting at its seams Emergency Wing,is only 33 per cent functional. The swanky building,which took a decade and Rs 40 crore for completion,has a total bed strength of 169 beds. However,only 75 patients have been admitted so far. This includes,six patients who are admitted in the ICU,15 patients in neurology ward and 54 patients in the department of orthopaedics. The emergency wing,which has a bed strength of 100,has approximately 300 patients admitted to it with more than half of the patients on stretchers struggling for a space. Out of the seven operation theatres in the complex,which include two minor Operation Theatres (OTs) and five major OTs,only two are functioning at any given time. A senior doctor of the Advance Trauma Centre said,Two of the OTs developed seepage and the flooring came off. We had to move the patients. We cannot use them until they are fixed permanently as it is very difficult to shift the patients. Meanwhile,the confusion as to whether the ATC building,which was constructed by CPWD,has been handed over to the PGI authorities or not remains with both of them making different claims. We have handed over the building to PGI authorities. As far as minor works are concerned,they can be done anytime. From our side,the building is complete, said a senior official of the CPWD associated with the project. On the other hand,PGI official spokesperson Manju Wadwalkar said,The building is yet to be handed over to us. Till the time that happens,we cannot make it fully functional as the patients would be inconvenienced if any work left now,is done later. In addition,there is no lift operator,no security officer and no administrative officer in the ATC and the present staff has been pooled from other departments. The,ATC which is also facing acute shortage of staff,will soon get 500 new employees which will include 300 nurses,200 para-medical staff besides attendants and house keeping staff. The hospital is however,sanctioned for only 76 nurses and 50 para-medical staff. The new Director of PGI,Dr Y K Chawla,has held four progress meetings and has been monitoring its pace personally. He had also given a go ahead to the requirement of 500 staff and the same has been sent to the Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare.
