Srinagar, Dec 22: The parents of infants admitted in the Neonatology Ward of sole maternity hospital, Lal Ded have accused the doctors of putting their babies’ lives at risk.
 The complainants alleged that the doctors remain regularly absent from duties during the day hours leaving the ailing infants at the mercy of paramedical staff.
 “The doctors including senior medicos visit the ward in morning and then literally disappear,” the agitated parents told Greater Kashmir adding the doctors don’t bother to examine the babies again during the day.
 They said the parents of babies whose condition deteriorate have to search for the doctors from ward to ward inside the hospital. “Many a times the condition of infants worsens during the time his attendant searches for the concerned medico,” the parents said, adding the paramedics available in ward were not trained enough to tackle the complications of babies.
 Sources in the hospital confirmed that doctors coming to the hospital leave in the morning leaving the patients in lurch. “The doctors posted in the ward including the seniors leave never to return during the day,” the sources added.
 Medicos in the hospital said the neonatology ward had huge importance in the maternity hospital. “If a baby is suffering from any disease, he is immediately referred to neonatology ward, wherein he should be provided treatment forthwith,” the medicos said adding that any delay could risk  infant’s life.
 The medicos said that the parents of even normal babies are asked to get the infant checked by doctors at neonatology ward. “The ward is of much significance and doctors should be available there in order to treat the ill babies,” the medicos added.
 When contacted, Lal Ded Medical Superintendent, Dr Nazir Chowdhary said the complaints were baseless adding that the “doctors do remain present during the entire day.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST