The catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) in the cardiology ward of King George Hospital commenced functioning again on Friday after a gap of more than four months following repairs carried out in its cables.
The expensive cables were damaged following short-circuit in October 2014 and the lab stopped functioning, forcing patients to look for private diagnostic centres.
“Engineers from Siemens were called and they put the estimated cost for replacement of the cables at Rs. 46 lakh. After obtaining permission from the District Collector (who is Chairman of the Hospital Development Society), we sent the proposal to the Principal Secretary (Health) and placed the work order upon obtaining his approval,” said KGH Superintendent M. Madhusudhana Babu. The cables had to come from Germany and Siemens took one-and-a-half months to source them. Then it was found that the UPS too had to be replaced. It took about a week’s time to source UPS from Vijayawada. It arrived on Thursday and was installed, and the cath lab was fully functional.
Diagnostic procedures commenced on Friday, providing poor patients a lot of relief.
Dr. Madhusudhana Babu said a proposal to pull down the S-III ward building, the roof of which was blown away during Hudhud in October last, and construct a new one was under consideration.
