Separate ward for destitutes at Wenlock hospital mooted

District Surgeon and Superintendent of Wenlock Hospital Rajeshwari Devi said a separate destitute ward needs to be constructed at the hospital to cater to the needs of destitutes.

Speaking at the annual general body meeting of Arogya Raksha Samithi of  Government Wenlock and Government Lady Goschen hospitals, here on Tuesday, she said Mangalore City Corporation has already earmarked Rs 21 lakh under SFC grant and Rs 5 lakh under three per cent fund earmarked for the welfare of disabled persons. If the earmarked fund is handed over to the Wenlock Hospital, then a 15-bedded separate ward can be constructed. The hospital has been receiving 50 to 100 destitutes.

The meeting also decided to send a proposal to the government to set up National Highway Trauma Centre at the Wenlock Hospital.

She said more than 200 trauma related cases are handled in the hospital. The hospital has only 60 to 80 beds to cater to the patients. Many a time patients have to sleep on the corridor. To which, District-in-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai asked her to send a proposal.

Nursing school

She said that the government has released Rs 61 lakh for the construction of two classrooms and two laboratory and other repair works of Nursing Training School, at Wenlock Hospital premises.

She said the nursing school is over 100 year-old. However, it did not have own building. The Nursing Council of India had even threatened not to give recognition to the school. As a result, two classrooms and two laboratories will be developed at the nursing hostel building at a cost of Rs 61 lakh. Work has been entrusted to Karnataka Health System Development Project (KHSDRP) and will be ready by next academic year.

She said a proposal has been submitted to the government to upgrade Wenlock Hospital as a regional hospital to cater to the needs of patients in 10 nearby districts. However, the proposal has not been given approval by the government. Hence, another proposal to upgrade the hospital to 1000 bedded hospital to get centre autonomous hospital tag has been sent to MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and Department of Health and Family Welfare.

Problems galore

She said as the hospital is expecting Rs 12 crore from the government and majority of the repair work will be taken up. The UGD work needs to be taken up in two blocks of the hospitals.

Toilets leak during monsoon. Hence, it needs to be renovated. The hospital also faces acute shortage of staff, which is causing lot of inconvenience in day to day activities.
The total sanctioned post of D group employees in the hospital is 286. However, 196 posts are lying vacant. The post of Administrative Officer and Assistant Administrative Officer is lying vacant.