People use government hospitals to escape summer heat

Though they do not create any problems, the fact that they take up too much space angers the patients. Saranya K, a 54-year-old resident of Royapuram, who had visited the hospital for her daughter’s check-up, said, “There is no place at the waiting area. I was at the hospital for more than seven hours and noticed the same bunch of people sleeping there. They got up for lunch and went back to sleep soon. They have not come with the patients.”

However, Dr Dhanasekaran Krishnan, Deputy Medical Superintendent at the hospital said, “We have not received any complaints of unauthorised occupancy. There may be instances where patients and their family stay back at the hospitals for longer hours to avoid the hot sun outside. But there haven’t been any problems due to this.” 

Stressing on the importance of scrutinising the situation and keeping an eye on those who enter the hospital premises, another doctor from the hospital said, “There are security guards at the hospital who keep an eye out for any miscreants.” 

At the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), the crowds will be brought under control within this week once the visitors’ passes are introduced.