Ceiling caves in on JJ patients

MUMBAI, JUNE 4: The hi-tech, hi-cost Critical Care Unit CCU of the JJ Hospital, which was inaugurated less than three months ago, was t...

MUMBAI, JUNE 4: The hi-tech, hi-cost Critical Care Unit CCU of the JJ Hospital, which was inaugurated less than three months ago, was thrown into chaos on Thursday when a portion of the ceiling collapsed. About eight patients were in the unit at the time, and had to be moved out to an adjoining wing by the doctors and nurses present. It might take three to four days to repair the ceiling, said sources.

The 30-bedded CCU was set up at a cost of about Rs 10 crore. Though the equipment, which include respirators and machines to monitor the functioning of the heart and lungs, had been purchased for large sums more than a year ago, the unit started functioning only on March 14 due to a protracted delay in internal work. Around one to two patients are admitted to the unit every day, which treats critical cases like poisoning and accidents.

On Thursday morning, part of the ceiling developed cracks and the plaster started falling off, revealed hospital sources. Though no patient was injured, the doctors andnurses on duty immediately shifted the patients to another wing.

The collapse could have been caused due to the ceiling being loaded with heavy cable wires and pipes during construction, said sources. The ceiling was also opened up once to install these pipes, and this unaccounted-for load could have triggered off the collapse, they added.

Such an incident is unheard of in the CCU of such a major hospital, commented a senior surgeon, and it simply indicates that the unit was set up in a hurry, he added. There have also been reports of leaks in the air conditioning ducts in the CCU, which could spread infection among the patients, he pointed out.

However, Dr Chitra Upasani, professor in charge of the CCU, flatly denied that there was a ceiling collapse, and said repairs were being carried out in the unit. However, she was hard-pressed to explain as to why a recently inaugurated unit would need repairs.

According to a senior medical officer, this incident is only a pointer to the larger ills plaugingthe CCU at JJ. Doctors from various wards are reportedly unwilling to refer their patients to the CCU, as even after patients are transferred there, CCU staff depend on the doctors from the respective wards to treat their patients. This almost nullifies the need to treat patients in the CCU, added sources.

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This could be because the CCU is still not adequately staffed, and doctors and nurses have not been properly trained in managing criticially ill patients, alleged sources. Despite having 30 beds, just 10 are being utilised.

According to Dr AC Mohanty, dean of JJ Hospital, though staff have been sanctioned for the CCU, the posts are yet to be filled. At present, doctors from various departments are being roped in to manage the unit8217;s workings. Even referring doctors are being called to manage their patients, he admitted. There are plans to expand the CCU to its full strength and this would be done after the necessary equipment is acquired, he told Express Newsline.