If it's not an emergency, surgery can wait

CHENNAI: While government hospitals continue to operate without a hitch in crisis-hit Chennai, private hospitals are yet to find their footing.
Nearly 100 surgeries have been postponed and many patients moved out due to lack of electricity and disruption in communication lines.
Some hospitals have also decided to postpone all elective or non-emergency surgeries - like hip and knee replacements, orthopaedic procedures, hernia and tonsil surgeries."In the past one week when the city experienced heavy rain, more than 15 surgeries were postponed at our hospital. We have put off planned surgeries until we sterilise the operation theatre and equipment. All affected patients have been contacted and new dates for their surgery arranged. The area is now being cleaned," said an official of Global Hospitals.
At Fortis Malar Hospitals, which is close to the banks of Adyar River, nearly 20 cardiac surgeries were postponed and five patients evacuated during the downpour as they were short of oxygen supply. "Though oxygen cylinders were being brought from our Bangalore hospital, we didn't want to take a chance," said a doctor. He added that while most regular surgeries went on according to schedule, heart surgeries were postponed.
"Our immediate focus was setting up medical camps to provide quick relief to the affected people. So we pushed non-critical procedures for later. We resumed surgeries on Monday," he added.
MIOT Hospitals, one of the worst hit in the floods, is yet to begin medical procedures as several patients - including those in ICU - were shifted to other hospitals. "Our OPD and basic investigation facilities were opened only on Monday. However as our services are not running normally. All surgeries have been postponed. We might resume them in a couple of days," said an official at the hospital.