Rodent makes a meal of two toes of 70-yr-old Pratap Sawant, who was, ironically, admitted at the hospital to regain sensation in his legs
Rodent makes a meal of two toes of 70-yr-old Pratap Sawant, who was, ironically, admitted at the hospital to regain sensation in his legsu00a0
In a shocking reversal of the natural sequence of events, two toes on 70-year-old advocate Pratap Sawant's right foot was allegedly chewed off by a rat not before, but after he was admitted to St George hospital.
u00a0
The rodent attack came, quite unexpectedly, at the hospital's nursing zone, which is often touted as its VIP zone, in which many of the city's high-flying politicians and administrative officials have been treated.
The Jogeshwari resident's surgery was scheduled for August 8, and he had admitted himself to the nursing home last Tuesday.
Sawant's original ailments were an enlarged prostate and diabetic neuropathy. The debilitating effects of the neuropathy have weakened his nerves, leading him to lose sensation in his legs.
u00a0
In a situation loaded with irony, the man who had turned to the hospital to regain use of his legs, woke up on Wednesday morning to find two toes on his right leg bitten and bleeding.
"As soon as Sawant brought the matter to the notice of the attending nurses, doctors rushed to Sawant's bedside.
u00a0
Much to their relief, the bones of his feet were found to be intact, but the muscle in the last two toes had been chewed into.
Although the wounds suggest that Sawant's toes have been gnawed off by rats, hospital authorities are reluctant to admit it," said a hospital doctor, on the condition of anonymity.
HesitantWhen MiD DAY visited the hospital yesterday, a hesitant Sawant said, "My operation is due on Monday. If the doctors are enraged with me, I might get into trouble.
u00a0
I will speak to you, but only after my operation is over."
Sanjay Gurav, member of the hospital's Visitors' Committee, said, "Rats have become a menacing presence in the hospital.
When my daughter was admitted to the hospital, the food that was given to her would often bear signs of having been nibbled by rats.
I had even lodged a complaint with the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC) for the same. He further added, "A little while back, a rat had leapt onto the bed of one of the patients.
u00a0
|
| The presence of rats in the wards has been a long-standing issue at St George hospital. In fact, rats jumped onto a patient's bed and nibbled at another's food, alleged a patient's kin |
|
It is time for the hospital to upgrade its hygiene standards."
Even a week ago, patients of the 300-bed hospital had expressed their concern over the dirty stench that was emanating from the premises. A total of 15 rats were found when the drains were being cleaned.
'Rat'E chartSt George, being a public hospital, offers free beds for patients. Those who express willingness to be admitted to the nursing unit are asked to pay an initial deposit of Rs 1,000, after which they are charged Rs 500 per day for air conditioned rooms for the first week since admission.
u00a0
If the hospital stay runs into its second week, then charges double up to Rs 1,000 per day. Non air-conditioned rooms cost Rs 150 per day.
A VIP suite in the nursing unit of St George hospital costs just Rs 500 per day, and is usually reserved for IAS officials, MPs and MLAs. Governors of various states and other political leaders have received treatment at the nursing unit in St George.
Rodent free-for-allIn February 2010, the MHRC issued a notice to the management of St George hospital, asking its officials to appear before it after one Sanjay Gurav, a member of the hospital's Visitors' Committee, lodged a complaint against the hospital about rats running amuck in the ward.
Gurav had admitted his 11-year-old daughter Sayali at the hospital's nursing home department after she fractured her right leg, but was appalled to find dozens of rats scurrying about the premises and inside the room. Sayali claimed that the rats ate up her fruits and biscuits.
The Other SideDR Kulkarni, medical superintendent at St George hospital, said, "The patient has complained to us about the injury, and we cannot rule out the possibility of a rat bite. However, the incident took place at night, and there are no witnesses for the event. He woke up to find that his foot was bleeding."
