Just a few weeks ago, a startling report stated that out of73 ambulances in Bengaluru, only 7 were assigned to ferry COVID patients in thecity. Now, amid the alarming rise in coronavirus cases, patients are finding itincreasingly difficult to avail emergency services.
In one such incident, a 50-year-old woman who testedpositive for COVID-19 was forced to wait for eight hours outside her home, for anambulance. According to an NDTV? report,while she received the call at around 1:00 PM, and the ambulance came at 9:00 PM.
In an interview with NDTV, the unnamed woman said, "I had gone to a hospital and came backhome yesterday evening. I was resting comfortably at home. I had no cold,cough, fever or headache. I washed clothes and cooked. Then at 1:00 PM, I got acall from Kagalipura hospital saying I was (COVID-19) positive. They asked meto pack my clothes and be ready for the ambulance. I have been sitting, waitingsince then."
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Residents have been asked to call 108 for an ambulance. Thesending of that ambulance and the allotment of hospitals beds is nowcentralised.
A driver who works with the 108 services told TOI that ittakes at least three hours to shift a positive patient from an isolationcentre. That apart, about two hours are spent in disinfecting the vehicle afterhaving a COVID-19 patient onboard.
In situations like this, many patients who are already sickare forced to find their way back home, on their own.
Last month, a COVID-19-positive patient was forced to go backhome from a private health facility and made to wait for nearly 18 hours beforehe was taken to hospital. "After testing positive, my uncle had to waitfor three days at home for an ambulance. When I contacted the driver, he toldme that he first needs to confirm about bed availability," said Vasudev, aresident of Basavangudi.
Karnataka, and Bengaluruin particular, have seen a rapid spike in cases in the last few days. BengaluruUrban remains the district with the highest number of cases. The state haslogged 23,474 coronavirus cases, including 372 deaths.
Also Read: Bengaluru Now Has The Highest COVID-19 Infection Rate Among Metros & It Is A Matter Of Concern