JOIN USAt the Delhi government-run Guru Nanak Eye Centre, patients are getting appointments for OPDs of superspeciality departments only three months later.
The superspeciality clinics at the hospital which are seeing a huge backlog of patients are retina, cornea and oculoplasty. For glaucoma patients, the waiting period is at least a month.
“The waiting window for patients who are seeking OPD services in retina, cornea and oculoplasty is three months. Patients were getting dates for glaucoma OPD after three months till recently. The backlog has been cleared recently and the waiting period has been reduced to a month,” said a senior doctor at the hospital.
A significant number of patients seeking OPDs in superspeciality departments have to opt for surgical procedures also. With OPD dates available after two to three months, the surgeries also are postponed.
This is mainly due to the acute shortage of manpower at the hospital, said doctors. Currently, there are 14 faculty members at the Guru Nanak Eye Centre who cater to patients. The superspeciality clinics are in addition to the routine OPDs.
“We are aware of the long waiting period for patients at some of the superspeciality clinics. The hospital administration is in the process of recruiting five more faculty members.
“We are also trying to achieve maximum utilisation of the OPD timings to clear the backlogs. The hospital is also trying to accommodate more patients for surgeries daily to clear the backlog,” said Dr Kamlesh, Director, Guru Nanak Eye Centre.
Currently, the hospital sees around 900 patients in OPDs per day and around 70 patients are operated daily, according to hospital authorities.
The hospital is planning to start day care sugeries for cataract patients. “At least 50 per cent of the patients of cataract operation can be discharged the same day. This way more patients can be accommodated,” said Dr Kamlesh.
The hospital is also planning to come up with dedicated counselling centres which will educate patients on the post-operative care.
The centres will also help patients choose the lens they want for surgeries. Patients have repeatedly complained on touts misguiding them on the type of lens they opt for.
Soon, there will also be LEDs installed in the hospital which will educate patients on the treatment options available. “Nurses will be posted at the dedicated centres to guide patients,” said Dr Kamlesh.