Two patients forced to share one bed at KIMS Hubballi; director points to huge admissions

HUBBALLI: Close on the heels of an elderly woman being treated on the floor at KIMS here, two patients were forced to share a bed in the same government hospital. When the patient asked the hospital staff for arrange for a separate bed, they allegedly behaved arrogantly and scolded her. A video clip of two women patients on a single bed went viral on Wednesday, triggering public outcry on the quality of public healthcare at government hospitals.

Sarala, a resident of Hubballi, and another patient Manjula, are admitted in the Obstetrics, Women and Child ward at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). Sarala was allotted a bed in the ward, but when she returned from the washroom, another patient, Manjula, was lying on it. When Sarala informed the nurse, she was apparently told to lie on the floor till another bed is arranged.

Not knowing what to do, Sarala slept on the floor for two hours, but could not sleep as she had undergone a surgery. She then went to meet the nurse again and asked for a bed to be arranged, but the nurse reportedly scolded her. After this, Sarala discussed with Manjula and both shared the same bed.

Sarala claimed, “I wasn’t even able stand on my feet at that time as I was feeling a bit weak. Doctors are very good here and the treatment was also good too. But the nurses are not patient-friendly and behave arrogantly with us. In fact, I even searched for another vacant bed. Now I can walk around the hospital and I am happy with service of the doctors”.

Ramalingappa, Director of KIMS, clarified on the matter said, “At that time, a huge number of patients were admitted at the hospital and there was a shortage of beds. Earlier, there were 300 beds and now the hospital has been to 400 beds. Such instances do happen sometimes and we will take care that it does not repeat again. More in-patients are coming in and we cannot deny them treatment” he said.

Ramalingappa, however, claimed that there was no complaint about negligence in treatment or misbehaviour by the hospital staff.