Lucknow, Nov 6 In view of the possibility of accidents, fire incidents, road mishaps and other emergencies during Diwali and Chhath Puja, the Medical Education Department has directed all government and autonomous medical colleges and their affiliated hospitals across the state to remain on high alert, the UP government said on Friday.
Director General of Medical Education and Training Neha Sharma issued detailed guidelines in this regard, a statement from the UP government said.
All medical colleges have been directed to ensure the availability of medical services, manpower, medicines, medical equipment and emergency facilities so that patients receive timely treatment in any unforeseen situation.
All life-saving medical services, including emergency departments, trauma centres, ICUs, burn units, anaesthesia, surgery and operation theatres, will remain operational round the clock at all medical colleges and affiliated hospitals. Patients arriving at emergency departments will undergo immediate medical assessment and receive first aid as required.
Instructions have also been issued to prioritise treatment based on the severity of patients’ conditions and ensure additional beds and medical resources.
Duty rosters will be prepared for doctors, nursing staff, technicians and other personnel from emergency, trauma centre, ICU, burn unit, anaesthesia, surgery, orthopaedics, medicine and radiology departments for the festive period.
The attendance of all personnel deployed on duty will be ensured, while additional manpower will also be kept available to meet any eventuality.
All concerned heads of departments and chief medical superintendents have been directed to ensure adequate stocks of essential and life-saving medicines, injections, dressing materials, sutures, plaster materials and emergency treatment kits.
The availability and functioning of essential equipment, including oxygen cylinders, oxygen supply systems, ventilators, monitors, defibrillators and suction machines, will also be inspected. Coordination with blood banks will be ensured to maintain adequate stocks of blood and blood components.
In cases where critically ill patients need to be shifted to higher medical institutions, an effective referral system will be ensured through prior coordination. Instructions have been issued to provide necessary medical assistance and ambulance services during transfers and ensure the process is not delayed unnecessarily.
Fire safety arrangements will be inspected in emergency departments, ICUs, operation theatres, oxygen plants, electrical panels, laboratories, hostels and other sensitive areas of medical colleges.
The functioning of fire alarms, firefighting equipment and other safety systems will be ensured. Hospitals have also been directed to keep all exit routes and staircases free of obstructions.
Every medical college and affiliated hospital has been directed to review and update its disaster management plan.
A clear action plan will be prepared to handle situations involving a large number of injured persons arriving simultaneously, including road accidents, fire incidents and stampedes.
A triage system will be implemented to prioritise treatment according to the severity of injuries, ensuring immediate medical attention for critically injured patients.
Hospitals have been directed to ensure proper sanitation, infection control, drinking water, electricity supply, backup power, oxygen supply and cleanliness of toilets.
Special monitoring will be maintained in burn units, ICUs, operation theatres and other sensitive areas. Regular inspections of oxygen plants and pipeline systems will also be conducted.
The director general has instructed the principals, directors and chief medical superintendents of all medical colleges to personally review the arrangements.
A senior officer will be designated as the nodal officer, wherever required, to monitor duty rosters, availability of resources and emergency preparedness.
Any laxity or negligence in implementing the directives will invite accountability of the officials and staff concerned, the statement said.
(PTI News)
