City hospitals ready with healing touch

The 108 emergency service has roped in three extra ambulances to tackle any situation.

Kaushal Patel, district manager of Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), said: “At present, we have 21 ambulances operating in Ahmedabad city. Although last year there wasn’t much awareness about the 108 services, this year we are expecting the number of road traffic accidents reported to us to increase by 20 percent along with other emergencies. We are confident of handling the surge in the number of emergency cases during Diwali.”

Two of the city’s biggest general hospitals, the Civil Hospital and V S Hospital are confident of aptly handling any emergency situation.

Civil Hospital superintendent MM Anchaliya said, “Although there has been no marked increased in the number of emergency cases during Diwali in the last couple of years, the plastic surgery and the Burns Department will remain open 24 hours.”

He further said the hospital had successfully managed the emergency situation during the serial blasts in July.

V S Hospital Deputy Superintendent U B Shah said the leave of all resident doctors have been cancelled, while medicines and surgical materials have been stocked up. “Even the professional staff will be available round the clock,” he added.

State secretary of the Indian Medical Association Bipin M Patel said that on Diwali, at least 50 per cent doctors in the city would work round the clock.