Spotlight on Chilaw General Hospital Patient dies on corridor due to lack of facilities

Chilaw General Hospital lacks sufficient facilities for patients

The place at the hospital where the deceased person was forced to rough out before he breathed his last 

A patient in critical condition and requiring a transfer from a divisional hospital to the general hospital, had to share a bed with several others

Relatives said Jayakody’s condition had worsened towards midnight

He had been admitted to Mundalama Divisional Hospital on March 18 and transferred to the Chilaw General Hospital

The space given to him at the hospital was merely enough for the staff to administer him with saline

Chilaw General Hospital Director maintains that he had already taken up this major issue affecting the hospital with the Health Minister

“It is a fact that the patient in question had to lie in the corridor. About 120 patients including the victim of this incident had been admitted to ward 12 in which beds were available for only 38 patients. Several patients had been left in the corridor or on chairs”

-  Dr. Sumith Attanayake, Director Chilaw General Hospital  

It is a matter of serious concern if an elderly in-house patient under treatment in a government hospital had to breathe his last in the corridor of such an establishment. A patient admitted to the Chilaw General Hospital has been the victim of such a harrowing experience. This patient was left in the corridor for want of accommodation in wards until he passed away.

The victim, K.A.Ranjith Jayakody (65), a farmer by profession and father of three children, was from Galkuliya in Mundalama.

He had complained of a stomach disorder which caused him severe pain. He had been admitted to Mundalama Divisional Hospital on March 18 and transferred to the Chilaw General Hospital.

It was unfortunate that this patient, who was in critical condition, and required a transfer from a divisional hospital to the general hospital, had to share a bed with several others. The space given to him at the hospital was hardly enough. The space given to him at the hospital was merely enough for the staff to administer him with saline.  His relatives maintain that the deceased had to spread a bed sheet and lie on the corridor of the ward. 

Relatives said his condition had worsened towards midnight. He had breathed his last while he was lying on the hospital corridor. His son, Sumith Jayakody, who was staying in the hospital with his father accused the hospital authorities of neglecting his dad, who was in critical condition. The circumstances left him with no other option, but to die in the hospital corridor without receiving better medical attention.  He said underscored that his father didn’t receive proper treatment. 

Meanwhile JMO, Chilaw Hospital Dr. L.R.Warnakulasuriya who performed the postmortem examination passed an open verdict and referred specimens of the body to the Government 

Analyst for report. 

However, Chilaw General Hospital Director Dr. Sumith Attanayake commenting on the allegations of the patient’s relatives said he look into the issue to find that the patient had been provided due treatments. However he admitted that the patients had been left on the corridor due to the heavy rush experienced  in the hospital for want of ward facilities. 

“It is a fact that the patient in question had to lie in the corridor. About 120 patients including the victim of this incident had been admitted to ward 12 in which beds were available for only 38 patients. Several patients had been left in the corridor or on chairs. They are facing hardship, but it is beyond control of the hospital administration.” he said 

He further said that he had already taken up this major issue affecting the hospital with the Health Minister and other relevant authorities and that the only way to resolve it is to enhance ward facilities.