LNJP learns lesson from kid's death

Two days after an infant died after being allegedly turned away from two government hospitals and the family members alleged delay at the state-run LNJP, the hospital is chalking out plans to give prompt care to critical children.

The Lok Nayak Hospital will now post two doctors from the paediatric unit at the main emergency. With many patients unaware where to take ailing newborns to, most arrive at the main casualty/emergency department.

In Monday’s case, the infant was denied admission at Kalawati Saran Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, the family members had alleged. Following this, the premature baby was taken to LNJP and the family could not figure out where to take the child to for around half an hour. While the infant’s family has claimed delay in treatment, LNJP has maintained that the child was brought dead.

“We will now put two doctors in the emergency itself so that they are the first point of contact in case of critical cases. This is to ensure patients do not need to go around departments and there is no loss in treating critical children,” said Dr Yogesh Sarin, medical superintendent, LNJP.

The hospital is also planning to put better navigation marks for every department so that patients do not get confused which entry point to take.

“Big boards will be put up outside each gate so that this confusion can be avoided. This will be in place in a week. With some distance between the different entries, time is often wasted,” said Dr Sarin.

The boards will help guide the CATS ambulance who often take patients to the wrong gates.

The hospital has submitted its report to the Delhi Health Department in which it maintains that there was no negligence on part of the hospital in treating the newborn, according to a source in the hospital.