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Ambulence Service - Pizza Delivery Faster than Ambulence
Written By Vasanth - 9 December, 2010
Bangalore Review Living public health ambulence
Yesterday I had a very bad day. Myself and my aged grand mother aged 81 were only at home. My Grand mother suddenly developed continous convolutions / fits which didn't stop at all even after giving iron to her hand and she had totally became unconcious. No one was there nearby my home whom I knew as it was afternoon and everyone had left to the office. I called up 108 for ambulence service before calling any of the family members, but the questionaire that they started to ask was so long in a tense situation - It is like a cell phone company survey type.
I told them I am calling from Kattriguppe Bangalore and I need an Ambulence urgently and gave them the land mark. He is asking which Village, which Hobli, which Taluk, from how many days she is suffering from this, what medicines she takes etc.. I am all alone at home and ended up wasting time, at that time convultions are increasing more and more, I asked him just take the land mark and provide us the ambulence, we will consult with the doctor, but the guy says he cannot book until I finish the questionaire and asking me to co-operate to finish the questionaire.
I got frustated and quit the call, called other family members, my mother came, she retried and got the same questionaire again. I thought of going to a nursing home nearby,( Vinayaka Nursing Home) and bring the ambulence since I did not had the number ( a lesson to be learnt to save the ambulence and hospital numbers nearby home) and was not in a mood to make other calls and waste the time. Unfortunately ambulence had gone to bring another patience and they had only one. They gave me a number I called that. He took nearly 45 minutes to turnup while we were about to take her by car. I was waiting near the nursing home since the ambulence guy has to search address. That guy was coming so lethargically without putting on the siren.
Vinayaka nursing home doesn't have ICU and recommended us to take to KR hospital nearby.
Ambulence didn't had anyone else other than driver, no oxygen, forget A/C. It was a tempo traveller with a stretcher and siren, that's all. So poor state. He charged 700 rupees for mere 2 kms and the driver is asking for tips - I shouted for what sort of service should I provide you the tips.
We admitted to KR Hospital, she is in ICU and has stabilized.
Lessons to be learnt are to keep the ambulence numbers of nearest hospital handy somewhere near the landline phone if we have one.
Poor service of 108, we cannot rely on them due to their long questionaire. Pizza delivery is faster than ambulences in our state since they do not have any SLA whatsoever.
COMMENTS
Vasanth, indeed it is heartening!
kbsyed61 - 9 December, 2010 - 14:39
Vasanth,
Sorry to hear about your grandmother's hospitalization. On behalf of Praja, we wish her a speedy recovery.
It is very heartening to hear the pathetic state of our first response services. I think in our governance and for our law makers, such things comes last in the priorities.
Any insight into who regulates or what norms rules this service?
-Syed
idontspam - 9 December, 2010 - 14:51
A government doctor, who did not want to be named, says, “There are no rules that govern the working of these private ambulances. Who gives them permission to run as ambulances? Some private ambulances do not even have basic facilities like oxygen cylinder but they still run as ambulances mainly to reap tax benefits and make money by carrying corpses.”
Naveen - 9 December, 2010 - 15:16
Vasanth,
Thanks for sharing yr experience with details. Moral of the story: avoid using ambulance, so far as possible. I think we only have ourselves to blame - the lengthy questionnaire is probably because there are many who would misuse the facility.
In an urgent situation, it's best to use whatever is nearest /easiest, & that usually is a private car.
@Vasanth, I am game for digging information!
kbsyed61 - 10 December, 2010 - 03:58
Vasanth,
Hope your grandmother is doing fine now. Once she is back at home, would appreciate some initiative from you.
To unravel the mystery of ambulance service in Bengaluru, I am game for asking BBMP, State health Services some questions pertaining to the ambulance services in Bengaluru and across the state.
-Syed
idontspam - 10 December, 2010 - 06:24
and offered to meet with us to show and explain 108's workings
Along with process it will be good to ask/check if they adhere to these guidelines on Ambulance euipment from Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Please take a print of these and hand over to them. You can also do a quick visual check of an ambulance and mark how many of the 33 are present in it. It can give us a quick percentage of non compliance.
I am 100% sure they wont have the hazmat guidebooks as it is a copy/paste from US handbooks :) Such is our attention to making laws
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