Spl ambulances ferry dialysis patients to hosps

Sukshma.R@timesgroup.com

Madurai:5.4.2020

Patients needing regular haemodialysis are being taken to hospitals in ambulances across the state to ensure they don’t skip or miss treatment during the lockdown.

The 102 ambulance service, originally meant for bringing women and newborns to hospitals for checkups, is being used to ferry dialysis patients who are not able to reach healthcare centres. There was an outrage on social media earlier about how patients with chronic renal ailments were unable to reach hospitals. Since March 25, 4,277 dialysis patients across the state have made use of the service and the number continues to increase by the day.

“Initially, people were coming to us in their private vehicles, even two-wheelers. Now, we are ensuring they make use of the 102 ambulance service, especially those who come from far. We inform them about it two days in advance of their appointment,” an official from the dialysis centre in Madurai said.

Hospitals too are trying their best to offer support for those who are travelling by private vehicles. “Many hospitals, including ours, which have patients coming from nearby districts, have given letters to avail government passes for emergency medical care to patients who come by private vehicles. We have also collected data from all our patients to connect them with the 102 ambulance service,” said authorities at the Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre.

Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), one of the state’s largest tertiary healthcare centres, has also not seen any drop in footfall of dialysis patients because of the 102 ambulance services. GRH Dean Dr J Sangumani said around 60 patients come for dialysis every day.

Another need for the ambulance service is that select centres are preferred for dialysis treatment. “We have patients who come from Theni, Kodaikanal, Dindigul and even Ramanathapuram. Many prefer sticking to a particular hospital because the care is different at each hospital. It is mostly never a case of just going to the nearest centre for best care,” said Dr Dinakaran, director of Madurai Kidney Centre.