Four new stretchers compatible with the ‘108’ ambulance have been added to the existing fleet at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in order to streamline patient care in Tiruchi.
The stretchers were purchased through the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), and are aimed at reducing the number of times patients are shifted within the different zones of the hospital.
Under the auspices of the Emergency and Research Institute (EMRI) services of the State Government, MGMGH currently has a fleet of 44 vehicles plying as ‘108’ ambulances that bring approximately 100 patients from accident sites and for other reasons to the Tiruchi hospital daily.
“The stretchers in the Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI) wards are bigger than those in the ambulance. While getting tested, patients could be shifted at least two or three times from the stretcher before they reach the bed. The new stretchers will minimise the discomfort caused to the patient by repeated changing,” S. Kumaravel, Dean, K.A.P Viswanatham Government Medical College, MGMGH, told The Hindu.
The extra stretchers would also help ambulances leave hospital bays faster after patients had been transferred out of the vehicles and reduce waiting times for emergency care, said Dr. Kumaravel.
Published – March 13, 2025 05:15 pm IST