X-ray machine down, patients suffer at JJ Hospital

An X-ray machine at the state-run J.J. Hospital has not been working for the past three days. The hospital administration is charging money for the X-rays but they are not being done, which has inconvenienced the patients and crippled the orthopaedic department. Seven members of a family, who met with an accident and were admitted at the hospital, are among the affected patients. Four members of the family have already taken discharge against medical advice (DAMA).

The machine is one of the three at the hospital, with the remaining two machines that are in working condition being used on rotation, in order not to overload them.

According to Khalid Patel, “My brother’s family was on its way towards our village on Monday at near Kalamboli when they met with an accident. All of them sustained fractures, after the car they were travelling in overturned.”

“From a Vashi hospital we rushed them to J.J. that night itself, but the x-ray machine has not been working for the past three days. I have already paid `15,000 for all my family members but it’s been three days and the X-ray of my family is being kept on hold,” added Mr Patel.

Mr Patel’s sister-in-law Kulsum Patel, whose hand is fractured, said, “I need to take treatment but if I don’t get an X-ray done how would doctor know the cause ”

“My husband has fractured his leg and I too am unable to move. My daughter and son too have fractures. What to do, the X-ray machine is not working and due to it we are suffering,” added Ms Kulsum, who has taken DAMA.

However, Dr Sanjay Surase, medical superintendent of J.J. Hospital, said, “There is the technical glitch. A major problem was there. We have called the technician, it will take a day and we’ll resume the services as soon as possible.”

“We are not stopping the X-ray we are having another machine in which we are conducting the X-rays. There is tremendous workload. But then too we are managing,” he added.