Less rush of patients at hospitals

KOCHI: Patients had a tough time reaching hospitals on Monday as hartal supporters stopped all vehicles.

The district General Hospital, which usually has over a 1,000 people at its out-patient department, had 167 patients, of which 14 were diagnosed with fever on Monday.

The hospital had only 30 per cent of doctors attending their duties and all operations scheduled for the day were cancelled.

No emergency cases came up in the day, said the Hospital superintendent.

In the Thripunithura Taluk Hospital, there were 177 patients in the OP, of which 15 patients had fever.

All the hospital staff had reported for duty as an ambulance was deployed to bring the staff into the hospital, said the Hospital superintendent. On any normal day, the OP varies from 500 to 600 patients.

In the Aluva Taluk Hospital, 84 people reached the OP. On a usual full day, the hospital has an OP of about 700 patients.