IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

W.P.(C) 2187/1996

LT.COL Y.K. WAHI(RETD) ..... Petitioner
Through Mr.Ashok Aggarwal with Ms.Sanchi,
Advocates


versus

BURNS DEPTT.OF SAFDARJANG HOSPITAL ..... Respondent
Through Mr. Arvind Sharma, Advocate for UOI
Ms.Zubeda Begum, Advocate for
Govt of NCT of Delhi.
Ms.Meera Bhatia, Committee Member
Dr.V.K.Ramteke, MS, LNJP Hospital
Dr. L.C. Thakur, MS and Dr. U.Sharma, Plastic Surgeon and
In-charge, Burns Ward, GTB Hospital
CORAM:
HON'BLE JUSTICE DR. MUKUNDAKAM SHARMA
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE HIMA KOHLI

O R D E R
19.10.2006

One of the main festivals celebrated in India, i.e. Diwali, is only a few
days away. In order to cope with the eventuality of reporting burn cases during
the Diwali celebrations, special arrangements shall have to made in the
Hospitals and Nursing Homes in Delhi. In order to facilitate the same, we had
called for affidavits of the concerned Head of Departments of Burn Units of
various hospitals in Delhi particularly, Government Hospitals setting out the
facilities and infrastructure available and required in their hospitals.

Pursuant to the same, Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has placed on record
an affidavit, filed through Dr.L.K.Makhija, Head of Department of Burns and


Plastic Surgery. Dr.Makhija has set out at length the present condition, status
and position of the Burns Unit of the said Hospital. He has also given a list
of the facilities which are presently available in the Burns Unit. On going
through the same we are surprised to find that there is no separate ICU for
burn patients in the said Hospital, which is one of the important and famous
hospitals of Delhi. We also find shortcomings of a number of other facilities,
which should have been available in the hospital. There is no separate
Operation Theater for the burn patients. There is also no separate laboratory
for the burn patients where ABG and routine investigations could be carried out.
The Doctor has given in the list all the facilities which are required to be
provided in the aforesaid ward which is annexed as Annexure R-2 with the
affidavit. On going through the same we are of the considered opinion that the
following facilities should be provided in the said Hospital by the Ministry of
Health/Director General Health Services, Government of India, for improving the
present condition and position of the Burns ward in the said hospital.

1. RECEIVING ROOM/CASUALTY:- (a) SEPARATE RECEIVING
Room with adequate Staff to receive burn patients.

(b) WEIGHING MACHINE

2.BURNS WARD: (a) 10 more beds with adequate space around beds
(b) Fowler Beds for Burns patient.
(c) Centralized O2/suction.
(d) Centralized Air Conditioning
(e) Patient transport trolleys

3. ICU : - Separate ICU for burn patients with
minimum 6 beds
Centralised O2/Vaccum
Central monitoring system
Nursing Staff: One Nurse/bed/shift.

4. DRESSING ROOMS: (1) Separate dressing room for male and female
burns patients
(2) Separate area of bathing for male and
female burns patients.

NURSING STAFF. At least 04 nursing staff for male and female
dressing room.

5. OPD:- - Separate OPD for Burns Patients
Separate Male and Female dressing Room for outdoor Burns patients

6 OPERATION THEATRE:- Separate O.T. for Burns patients.

7. LAB:- Separate lab for Burns Patients, where ABG and Routine
investigation can be carried out.

8. PHYSIOTHERAPIST:- A physiotherapist for Burns
patients.

9. DOCTORS and OTHER STAFF:-Sr.PLASTIC SURGION -01
-PLASTIC SURGEON -05
-SR. RESIDENT -4 Additional
-JR. RESIDENT -7 Additional
-STAFF NURSES -17 Additional




We direct the concerned authorities to provide the aforesaid facilities
to the said hospital as early as possible, preferrably within a period of six
months from today. A status report shall be filed by the Director General
Health Services regarding compliance of the orders of this Court and the
facilities provided by them.
Similarly, an affidavit has also been filed by the Guru Teg Bahadur
Hospital, represented through Dr.L.C. Thakur, Medical Superintendent and
Dr.Upendra Sharma, Plastic Surgeon and In-charge, Burns Ward of the said
hospital. On going through the affidavit and upon hearing Ms.Meera Bhatia, who
represents the Committee appointed by this Court, we are of the considered
opinion that similar facilities, as are to be provided in the Burns Ward of Dr.
RML Hospital, are also required to be made available in the Guru Teg Bahadur
Hospital. The facilities which are available in the said Hospital, in our
opinion, are not sufficient to treat burn cases effectively and particularly
those which are emergent in nature and requires immediate attention. Extra care
has also to be taken so far as burn patients are concerned. In the facts and
circumstances of the case, we are also of the considered opinion that the
following facilities are required to be provided in Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital
as early as possible, in any case not exceeding six months from today. A Status
report shall be filed by the Principal Secretary (Health), Government of NCT of
Delhi giving the details of all the facilities that are provided in terms of
this order.
1. 20 beds solely for plastic and reconstructive surgery/Grafting in
burn patients

2. Surgical Equipments

3. Drugs ? Higher Antibiotics Example ? Pipracillin + Tazobactum and
Cefipime

4. Staff (posts to be created)

Professor, Plastic Surgery - 1 (to be converted from
non-teaching existing posts of Sr. Specialist Gr-I)

Associate Professor, Plastic Surgery - 1 (to be created)

Assistant Professor, Plastic Surgery - 1 (to be converted from
non-teaching existing posts of Jr. Specialist)

Senior Residents, Burns - 4
Junior Residents, Burns - 9
Sister In charge - 5
Staff nurses - 6
Dresser - 16

Anaesthesia staff

Junior Specialist - 1
Senior Resident - 2

5. Operation theaters (Twice weekly to begin with).

6. Latest version of ventilator



7. Provision of another dressing room to permit dressing of female
patients separately .


Dr.Vinod Kumar Ramteke, Medical Superintendent, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash
Narain Hospital has filed a one page affidavit before us wherein he has stated
that the Burns Ward in the said hospital is in the best condition and does not
need any further facilities or infrastructure from the Government. He is
present in Court. On enquiry from him we find that not even a ventilator is
available in the Burns Ward to put the burn patients on ventilator in case of
emergency. We are also told that Anesthetist is also not available.
Definitely, these are important facilities which are required to be provided in
the hospital, apart from such other facilities which are being provided to other
hospitals. We are surprised to note that the concerned Doctor is trying to
paint a rosy picture of the Burns Ward of the said hospital although required
facilities are not available in his hospital. We direct him to file a reply as
to why appropriate action should not be taken against him for misleading the
Court on the factual position and condition of the Burns Ward of LNJP Hospital.
He shall submit his reply within two weeks.
We request the Committee appointed by this Court to give a surprise visit
to the LNJP Hospital along with Ms.Zubeda Begum, the learned counsel appearing
for the Government of NCT of Delhi, improptu on a given date within four weeks.
A report regarding the facilities and infrastructure available in the Burns Ward
of the said hospital shall also be filed before the next date.
In view of the ensuing festival season and in view of the expected
increase in burn cases during Diwali, we direct all the concerned authorities
that :

1.For the next two weeks all Diwali burn patients shall be directly received in
the burns wards in all the nursing homes and hospitals in Delhi;

2.20 beds in every hospital for the burns patients shall be kept ready on Diwali
day for admission in burn ward;

3.Dressing materials for dressing of minor burns shall be kept ready;

4.Connected and relevant medicines, including drugs, IV fluids, oxygen cylinders
etc. shall also be kept ready for use in case of emergency burn cases;

5.Ophthalmology Departments shall also be kept ready to provide assistance in
management of facial burns involving eyes, in case of need;

6.The Heads of Department of the Burn Wards shall keep themselves available for
all the 24 hours for the next four days for any emergency that may occur in
their hospitals;

7.All burn cases which are brought to the hospitals/nursing homes shall be
treated immediately for the next one week, without waiting for permission or
registration of police cases;

8.The Commissioner of Police is requested to post one Assistant Sub Inspector in
the Government Hospitals so as to enable the Police to record statements of the
burn patients, if necessary.

In this connection we also reiterate the additional directions,
which were part of our order dated 28th October, 2005.
Renotify on 6th December, 2006.


Copy of this order be issued dasti to Ms.Meera Bhatia, Member of the
Committee appointed by this Court, and to the learned counsel appearing for the
parties, under the signatures of the Court Master of this Court.


DR. MUKUNDAKAM SHARMA, J



HIMA KOHLI, J
OCTOBER 19, 2006
?v?