Prayagraj: Serious lapses in cleanliness, patient care, infection control and hospital services were exposed during a surprise inspection of Swarup Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital by divisional commissioner Lokesh M, who gave the administration four days to rectify the deficiencies or face action.The commissioner was accompanied by additional director (health) Dr Rakesh Kumar, chief medical officer Dr Arun Tiwari, SRN Hospital CMS Dr Neelam and other officials.Several patients complained that they were being forced to buy medicines and undergo diagnostic tests outside the hospital. Some attendants also alleged that hospital employees demanded money for minor services.At the trauma centre, sanitation was found to be below prescribed standards, while patient care and emergency response arrangements appeared sluggish. In the trauma triage room, medicines, injections and other medical supplies were not being maintained as per standard operating procedures (SOPs).Officials found improper segregation of biomedical waste, dusty surroundings, inadequately cleaned forceps and blood-stained bedsheets. A woman with an open wound was found unattended in the minor OT/dressing room. An elderly patient on oxygen support was also found waiting unattended for an X-ray because the attendant did not have the required slip. The commissioner ordered immediate corrective action.The X-ray room was found cluttered and unhygienic, with dust around the machine, scrap material, old slips, a broken chair and staff helmets lying nearby.In the male and female orthopaedic wards, several patients showed prescriptions and reports indicating that medicines and diagnostic tests had been advised from outside the hospital.Doctors told the inspection team that many essential medicines were not being supplied by the corporation, forcing patients to purchase them privately.Similar shortcomings were noticed in the ENT OPD, where instruments were found to be inadequately sterilised and bedsheets and medical materials were unclean.The commissioner has sought a detailed inquiry report from additional director (health) Dr Rakesh Sharma. He warned that the hospital would be inspected again after four days and that action would be recommended against officials or employees found guilty of negligence.
