Accident victim died due to delay in treatment in Ambur GH, inquiry ordered

Shanmughasundarm j| TNN | Aug 13, 2017, 10:27 PM IST

Hindu Munnani members staging protest condemning the health department and hospital management.

VELLORE: A 65-year-old accident victim and a critically ill 13-year-old girl died at the government hospital in Ambur, allegedly due to delay in treatment on Sunday afternoon.

The two deaths, within a span of an hour, and in the absence of doctors at the GH, sparked a protest. Members of the Hindu Makkal Katchi locked the main gate of the hospital and laid siege to it for nearly 30 minutes, condemning "the lethargic attitude of the doctors and hospital management". The incident created some unrest in the area.

The victims have been identified as Rajkumar of Chennai and Vaishanavi of Rallakothur near Omarabad in Vellore district.

Collector S A Raman said he has directed Joint Director (in-charge) of medical and rural health services, Vellore Dr A Shanthi.to conduct a departmental probe into the incidents. "If the charges are proved, departmental action will be taken against the duty doctor," said the Collector.

Rajkumar and Shanthanam, 84, were travelling in a car towards Bengaluru from Chennai on Sunday when the accident occurred near Vadapudupet at 12.20pm. Rajkumar lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a truck in front of him. A 108 ambulance from Madhanur arrived at the spot and shifted Shanthanam to the Christian Medical College Hospital. The ambulance from Ambur shifted Rajkumar to Ambur GH.

"Rajkumar was admitted at the GH at about 12.40 pm. There were two staff nurses and no doctors at the hospital when Rajkumar was admitted," said a source and added that Rajkumar died due to injuries by the time the duty doctor returned to the hospital.

Sources in the health department said that Rajkumar died at about 3 pm and the duty doctor came to the hospital at about 3.30. Officials, however, said the doctor was at the hospital when the girl was brought to the hospital.

The girl has admitted in the GH 10 days ago and referred to a hospital in Bengaluru. But, the family did not take the child for surgery and brought her back to the GH by 4 pm. "The child was brought dead," said Dr Shanthi.

She added that the medical officer post would be handed over to Dr Kennedy. At present, the post is held by senior assistant surgeon Dr Sharmila. "We will depute two doctors from neighbouring hospitals to increase the present strength from four to six," she said.