Urgent need for new OPD block at Wenlock Hospital: Health Minister

Mangaluru: Due to the outdated condition of the outpatient department (OPD) building at Wenlock Hospital, a new OPD block is urgently needed, said Dinesh Gundu Rao, the state’s Minister for Health and Family Welfare. The Minister suggested that funds earmarked for the construction of the “Critical Care Block” could be reallocated to build the new OPD block.

During a meeting  held at Wenlock Hospital on Saturday, Minister Gundu Rao noted that Rs. 24 crores had been set aside for the 50-bed Critical Care Block on the hospital premises. He instructed the officials to plan the construction of the OPD block using these funds and to submit a report to him by August 28.

Appointment of Public Relations Officers

Given that Wenlock Hospital serves multiple districts with over 900 beds, there is a need for Public Relations Officers (PROs) to provide accurate information to the public. The Minister directed Dr. Jacintha D’Souza, the District Medical Superintendent of Wenlock Hospital, to submit a proposal for hiring at least two PROs on a contract basis, as managing this task solely through a help desk is not feasible.

Minister Gundu Rao was also informed that the delay in government payments to the outsourcing agency handling patient care had led to a reluctance among new contractors to take over services. Consequently, the current contractor might cease operations this month. Additionally, there were complaints from the public regarding untreated waste from the hospital’s sewage treatment plant being discharged directly into the drainage system.

Proposal to Widen Access Road

A proposal to convert the access road between Wenlock Hospital’s RAPCC building and the mortuary into a private road for the hospital has stalled. Minister Gundu Rao instructed officials to expedite this process. The widening of the road near Milagres Church would require acquiring land from private owners. Once widened, the road near the mortuary could be converted into a private road for the hospital, according to officials from Mangaluru Smart City.

The Minister also directed the hospital superintendent to develop a plan to use the Rs. 21.55 crores available under the hospital’s Health Protection Fund for emergency services. He emphasized the need to submit proposals for the recruitment of medical staff, D group workers, and data entry operators.

Relocation of Major Departments to Surgical Block

The Minister stressed the importance of relocating major departments currently housed in the old Wenlock building to the Surgical Block as soon as possible. He also noted complaints from the public about the lack of doctors in the casualty department, which is hampering emergency services.

Responding to these concerns, Dr. Jacintha stated that the current OPD and casualty wards are too small and lack space for triaging and other services. However, she assured that emergency services would improve once the departments are relocated to the new Surgical Block. The operation theaters, endoscopy unit, X-ray, ultrasound, ENT, and urology wards would also be moved to the Surgical Block within a few days.

Dr. Suresh Kumar Shetty, Associate Dean of KMC, mentioned that the Cath Lab with equipment worth Rs. 3 crores would be operational by the end of September.