GHs tighten security to prevent patients from escaping
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:21.06.2020
City government hospitals (GH) have reinforced security measures after the Friday’s incident in which a Covid-19 patient, who escaped from one of the hospitals, was found dead in Cooum River.
Some hospitals like Stanley Medical College (SMC) have started issuing wristbands again to all Covid patients. Every time a patient is admitted, an investigation card, containing name and ward details, is generated and the same details are printed on their wristbands.
Made up of synthetic material, these bracelets can’t be cut easily and a patient has to wear it till they are discharged, said P Balaji, SMC dean. The bands will differentiate patients from attenders and others who are allowed to go out of the hospital premises.
“Now if a patient tries to sneak out amid crowds during food breaks, security guards will be able to notice them quickly and stop their escape,” said an administrative officer from the hospital. All the eight blocks in the hospital have security guards and CCTV cameras to monitor movement of people and stocks.
More barricades have been placed at all entry and exit points and all staff instructed to keep Covid ward doors closed and allow only authorised persons, said a health department official. Additional police force has also been deputed. “Unlike other wards, we can’t allow attenders at Covid wards since they might get infected. Their entry is restricted only till the triage ward where cases are diagnosed,” said a senior doctor at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.
The first incident of a Covid patient escaping from a GH was reported at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) on March 28. The 58-year-old man was rescued by police from his home at Basin Bridge. Since then around 50 such attempts have taken place in Chennai, according to official data.
TAGGED: A patient with a wristband at Stanley government hospital
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