Elective surgeries suspended in Kashmir
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 28: As the hospitals in both the capitals of Jammu and Kashmir are already facing an immense load due to routine admissions of the COVID-19 positive patients from all over the Union Territory, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) Kashmir and Jammu today directed the hospitals in peripheries to refrain from referring patients to tertiary care hospitals.
While issuing the order in this connection, DHS Jammu Dr Renu Sharma has impressed upon all Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and Medical Superintendents to ensure that there are no unnecessary referrals from districts to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu which is already overburdened with the load of COVID patients.
Keeping in view the current crises that have emerged out of the pandemic and its recent surge in Kashmir, a similar order was issued by DHS Kashmir Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather. In his order, he also directed all CMOs and Medical Superintendents to ensure that no unnecessary referrals are made from districts to SKIMS Soura and GMC Srinagar.
However, both the Directors made it clear in their orders that in case any referral is needed in the interest of patient care, the Chief Medical Officer of the concerned district must be informed in advance so that the necessary communication is carried out with the hospitals in Srinagar/Jammu.
In their orders, they further directed CMOs to ensure that no doctors and paramedics leave their respective stations and remain available for patients in this hour of crisis. They warned that non-compliance in this regard will be taken seriously and action initiated under rules.
Meanwhile, sources in DHS Jammu told Excelsior that this is not the first time that such orders have been issued. “In last few weeks, such orders were issued twice but the doctors in the peripheries did not take the orders seriously and continued to make unnecessary referrals to the hospitals in Jammu, which compelled the Directorate to issue the order again,” they added.
In the meantime, the DHS Kashmir, while issuing a separate order, directed the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), Medical Superintendents and Block Medical Officers (BMOs) in the districts to suspend the conduct of elective surgeries with immediate effect. They were directed that only Obstetrician emergencies and other emergencies should be performed and the services of surplus staff should be utilized in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic in the districts.
Pertinently, the elective surgeries and routine admissions were already barred in SKIMS Soura, GMCs Jammu/Srinagar and other hospitals (dedicated for COVID patients) in Jammu as well as Kashmir. However, the elective surgeries and routine admissions are being done in district and others hospitals of Jammu province.
Regarding the care of the COVID-19 positive patients who have been kept in isolation at homes, the DHS Kashmir directed CMOs, BMOs and Medical Superintendents to ensure monitoring of health status of such patients on daily basis as per the past practice and standing SOPs/guidelines.
“The health status should be monitored by the field staff/surveillance teams through personal visit along with a dedicated call centre/control room to follow up the patients on daily basis,” the DHS Kashmir said in its order.
He directed District Health Officers to ensure that the clinical status of each case is recorded by the field staff/call centre such as body temperature, pulse rate and oxygen saturation.
“The field staff, as per the directions issued shall also guide patients on measuring these parameters and provide the instructions to the patients and their caregivers in light of the guidelines, laid down by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,” the order stated.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
